2 Investigators/BGA: Lying Chicago Cop Now On Radar Of Interim Supt.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's top cop is now reacting to a story that 2 Investigator Pam Zekman and the Better Government Association broke last night. Why is a cop still on the job after she admitted lying under oath in a criminal case?
This morning, Acting Chicago Police Superintendent John Escalante had not even heard of the case involving Officer Allyson Bogdalek until the CBS 2/BGA story.
"That was a case, I was not aware of," Superintendent Escalate said. But now, "It's definitely on the radar screen yes."
Our story shows video evidence of the Chicago Police officer appearing to lie.
"We did a photo array, he couldn't pick him out of the pictures that we gave him," says Officer Allyson Bogdalek on a police car dash cam recording.
Officer Bogdalek was talking about showing a victim photos of Ranceallen Hankerson, who was charged with 29 felony counts including, attempted murder and armed robbery for a liquor store hold-up.
Later in court, Officer Bogdalek testified under oath that there had been no photo array. Bogdalek later admitted to lying about the photo array and charges against Hankerson were dropped.
"That officer to my understanding has been relieved of her police powers and has been in an administrative position pending the disciplinary case," Escalante said.
A case that has taken three years while Bogdalek earned about $80,000 a year on desk duty and even though her office recommended a perjury prosecution, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez declined to prosecute Bogdalek.
The state's attorney's office says that because Officer Bogdalek admitted the lie while the case was still pending, under state law she could not be charged with perjury.
But, CBS 2 legal analyst and attorney Irv Miller says there were other options.
"She could have been charged with official misconduct and obstructing justice and if the proof existed she could have easily been convicted," said Miller.
Officer Bogdalek told investigators that two sergeants and a lieutenant told her to keep quiet about the lie. That was news to Supt. Escalante.
"I've asked internal affairs to give me a better briefing," Escalante said.
"When police officers don't get disciplined or held accountable or charged for bad behavior their more likely to do it again because they think they can do it with immunity," said Andy Shaw with the Better Government Association.
A spokesman for the police department said Escalante was briefed late today about the case by internal affairs and a conclusion to their investigation is expected soon. He said the IAD investigation was delayed by the review by the state's attorney's office and the fact that it included allegations against supervisory personnel.
