Teenage migrant pregnant as result of alleged sexual misconduct by CPD officer, sources say
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Police Department is investigating claims that several officers engaged in sexual misconduct with migrants living at a West Side police station. Many in the community are expressing outrage as crucial questions remain unanswered.
All the migrants who were being housed in the 10th District have now all been relocated. The group has been dispersed to several shelters across the city, and many were bused out early Friday.
The allegations being made are very disturbing. Police officers are accused of having sex with migrants. Sources say as many as four officers are involved in the alleged misconduct.
Sources tell CBS 2 that a teenage migrant is pregnant due to one of these alleged encounters.
Ald Andre Vazquez of the 40th ward and chair of the newly established immigrant and refugee rights committee is describing the allegations coming out of the 10th Police District as horrifying and disgusting.
"We are talking about a minor from another country," he said. "There might be language barriers. There's power dynamics. We are talking about government employees that are in charge with keeping the public safe."
Vazquez says CPD and its relations with migrants were already on their radar.
The state attorney general is investigating claims that the department was accused of denying hundreds of undocumented immigrants a chance to apply for a special visa designed for crime victims.
"I think now, with this new story, we want to make sure that an investigation is done because without one done, to have a hearing and the only answer will be, 'Well, this is currently part of the investigation,'" he said.
The only thing the Chicago Police Department would confirm is that it has opened an investigation into the allegations.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the agency investigating police misconduct cases, is also investigating.
The Fraternal Order of Police, the union representing Chicago Police officers is pushing back against the claims, calling them ridiculous in a statement on YouTube late Friday.
"There is no validity to the complaints," said John Catanzara, president of the FOP. "There is no basis or origin of where it originated from. We don't have a victim's name or anything, or victims repeatedly, multiple at this point. Who knows if it's even true?"
A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement Friday saying the city is taking these allegations very seriously.
The names of the officers allegedly involved in this situation have not been released.
