Mayor Releases Koschman, Markham Investigative Reports: EXCLUSIVE

CHICAGO — For generations, cops well versed in the art of cover-ups could rely on City Hall to keep details revealed only in inspector general investigative reports secret from the public.

Those days are over, thanks to Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

On Monday, Patch obtained the first inspector general investigative reports released by Lightfoot’s administration since the City Council in October approved an ordinance giving the mayor authority to share with the public the city watchdog’s take on "the most high-profile and consequential investigations in our city.”

More than 200 pages of detailed investigative reports shed light on how police mishandled probes into the 2004 death of David Koschman, and the suspicious circumstances surround the 2015 death of police Sgt. Donald Markham.

Six sets of investigative papers offer a more nuanced perspective from the city's watchdog on the failed attempt to protect then-Mayor Richard M. Daley’s nephew Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko from prosecution (he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter) for throwing a punch that lead to Kocshman’s death. We learn, for instance, that former chief of detectives Constantine "Dean" Andrews' sudden retirement on Dec. 7, 2015, may not have been related to the release of Laquan McDonald's murder video, as previously reported. As things turn out, Andrews signed his retirement papers two days after the inspector general called for his termination in writing.

And a separate 80-page report outlines the city watchdog’s take on the mishandled investigation of Sgt. Markham’s suspicious death, which was reported as a suicide. The report includes previously unreleased witness interview with first responders, neighbors and family that the city watchdog cited in an argument that suggested police officers ignored evidence and failed to verify accounts of Markham's death despite a "marriage having been marked by credit card debt, allegations of infidelity and volatile arguments" to protect Markham’s wife, also a police officer.

What’s more significant, though, is Lightfoot's administration is finally giving Chicagoans a look at the city watchdog’s unfiltered take on police misconduct.

These are the type of secret investigation reports that typically only get sent to city's top cop, top lawyers and, of course, the mayor. The inspector general's findings don't get shared with aldermen. And Freedom of Information requests for the taxpayer-funded investigative findings routinely get denied. Lightfoot, on her own accord, made them available for everyone to see.

“The act of bringing the reports to light helps reverse the narrative that government operates in secrecy,” Lightfoot said. “Also, the fact that we’re bringing this to light hopefully serves as reminder to people in the present and the future that they must act in the best interest in the public."

For too long, City Hall’s willingness to keep police misconduct investigations secret by hiding behind union contract provisions codified in state law helped harbor the “Thin Blue Line” code of silence in the police department. Lightfoot's about face on that City Hall tradition sends a clear message.

“Transparency helps solve a lot of problems. It helps to aid in the legitimacy of government. … It also adds a measure of accountability to those who are working in public service,” the mayor said. “They now know their actions will be known by members of the public.”

And the mayor says she's not going to stop there.

“We still have to do a lot more to make sure that we are being a lot more transparent in how we conduct business,” Lightfoot said.

“I’d like to get to the point where most of what people want to know is already out there because we as a government as a matter of course making information available.”

Read the Office of the Inspector General reports below:

Office of the Inspector General Koschman report — Lt. Denis Walsh by PATCH on Scribd

>

Office of the Inspector General Koschman report — Chief Constantine "Dean" Andrews by PATCH on Scribd

Office of the Inspector General Koschman report — Det. Nicholas Spanos by PATCH on Scribd

Office of the Inspector General Koschman report — Det. James Gigler by PATCH on Scribd

Office of the Inspector General Koschman report — Cmdr. Joseph Salemme by PATCH on Scribd

Office of the Inspector General Koschman report — Sgt. Sam Cirone by PATCH on Scribd

Office of the Inspector General report - Death of Sgt. Donald Markham by PATCH on Scribd