7 police torture cases OK’d for investigation

A state commission that investigates alleged police torture says seven cases have merit for more investigation.

The Illinois Torture Relief and Inquiry Commission has approved the cases for evidentiary hearings. Commission spokesman Mike Claffey says the cases were forwarded to the chief judge for Cook County criminal court. The cases involve seven men who say they were tortured by police detectives associated with former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge.

The commission also found three cases didn’t have sufficient evidence of torture and didn’t refer the cases for investigation.

The commission was set up in the wake of allegations that Burge and subordinates tortured suspects. Burge was convicted in 2010 of lying in testifying in a lawsuit he’d never participated or witnessed suspect torture. He’s serving a 4½-year sentence.