Federal jury awards Harvey policeman $600,000
A Harvey police officer forced to patrol in an unsafe squad car because of his opposition to the city’s mayor has been awarded $600,000 by a federal jury.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports shots were fired at Alex Gbur the night of Sept. 26, 2006, but the officer couldn’t call for help because the squad car had a broken radio.
Gbur testified he was ordered to work without his police dog, and to take the squad car because he supported Marion Beck, a political rival of Mayor Eric Kellogg.
Despite denials by Kellogg and Harvey police, the jury on Thursday found in Gbur’s favor. It awarded Gbur $500,000 in compensatory damages and ordered Kellogg to pay $75,000 in punitive damages. Former Police Chief Andrew Joshua was ordered to pay $25,000.
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