Drunk off-duty cop attacks woman...

The individual officers who try to cover this up are guilty as well.

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As are those who look the other way.

The system cannot exist as it does without the "stop snitching" attitude. A cop who KNOWS of criminality by cops and who does not ACT is an accessory, even MORE than a non-cop who knows of criminal activity and does not report it. The non-cop has taken no oath to uphold the law.

It stretches credulity far beyond the breaking point to believe that other officers didn't know what Abbate was doing, and what others KNEW he was doing.

As I said previously, I'd REALLY like to know what's in his personnel file. It must be fascinating reading. What his contemporaries and superiors know about him which is NOT documented in his personnel file must be the stuff of unsaleable screenplays.

There is -ZERO- prospect of the Chicago Police Department policing ITSELF. Its attempt to end-run the State's Attorney's office is ironclad proof of THAT. Perhaps it's time to take the Chicago PD out of Daley's hands.

Because you're not allowed to sue the officer as an individual

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The officer can be sued and probably will although I would be willing to bet that a guy like that doesn't have much. Suing cities is tough as they aren't known for paying up after being sued.

Fox News briefly interviewed the girl. She is a 25 yo Polish immigrant single mom. I am sure she could use the money but that being said squeezing money out of a city like Chicago is a long arduous and sometimes hopeless process.

OK I’ve read this story and the subsequent postings and am properly disgusted by this entire offense. Yet I still have some questions, did the bar employees know that this offender was a LEO before or after the incident? Why didn’t other patrons intercede? Does this LEO offender have a past history of use of force or anger control complaints? What about substance abuse has he been through an EAP program before this? Did he request EAP assistance afterwards or check himself into a substance abuse program on his own or through a coworker’s recommendation or assistance? The ugly truth of the matter is that he committed a despicable act of anger and cowardice and will most likely not have a future career in LE. He must face a criminal trial for any type of conviction and punishment, but I am puzzled at the allegations of a lawsuit so early into this incident, who is to be sued and for what? Now as for not charging this off duty thug while he was a patient of a substance abuse program. Well I do know that once a person checks themselves in for treatment you can’t arrest them until they are dismissed, so you can obtain warrants later, prior to their release. It is also not uncommon for initial misdemeanor charges to be amended or upgraded to felony charges after an offender is or has been initially charged, when additional evidence or information is brought to light. This is a said state of affairs for a law LEA and must be dealt with professionally, fairly and ethically.

Creekwalker

My comments to a Chicago Tribune blog:

I won't even try to pretend that any of this surprises me, especially the attempts to intimidate the victim and witnesses. I would expect these to continue and indeed to escalate.

Officer Abbate's actions were in the finest traditions of the Chicago PD. That's why I'm ashamed to be from Chicago. It's why I'm proud that I moved away twenty years ago, NEVER to return.

Do we need ANY more proof that the Chicago PD needs to be taken out of Daley's hands???

Chicago: if you like Baathist Iraq, but you just can't do without snow.

This is one of the rare occasions where I feel that a civil suit is justified, be it against the city or the police union or whoever. The woman was viciously beaten by a civil servant who had a history of substance problems and anger, and who was not held accountable for said abuses, and in top of all that it took a month and a very clear video record of the incident to even get a case against the dirtbag. This guy should have been off the force a long time ago, and the fact that they are treating him with kid gloves is just outrageous. The police should be held to a HIGHER standard than the rest of the populace, since they are the ones enforcing those standards. I am not generally in favor of civil suits, but in this case I hope the lady takes them to the cleaners.

This is one of the rare occasions where I feel that a civil suit is justified, be it against the city or the police union or whoever.

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You bet it is.

This appears to go right to the top of the Chicago PD. I'd like to see the US DoJ investigate the initial handling of this case by the police, INCLUDING the attempted end-run around the State's Attorney. Nothing would please me more than to see not just the sniveling coward at the center of this despicable fiasco go to prison, but those of his comrades who helped in his witness intimidation attempt, and his superiors who attempted to sweep the entire thing under the rug.

Cline must GO. And he should not be the only one.

If the penalty for harming or killing a law officer is harsher than it would be for doing the same to a 'regular' person, should not the penalties assessed to a law officer when breaking the law he's sworn to uphold be harsher as well? I'm certain the good ol' boys will take care of their own....

I'm certain the good ol' boys will take care of their own....

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They always do...unless they need to sacrifice one for the sake of the media in order for the people to look the other way until the next big slip up.

Beyond a doubt it was a terrible thing to have happen. It's not unusual in Chicago sad to say. When I was growing up there, cops tried to sell my family hot microwaves and televisions. My father just about kicked them down the stairs, tvs and all. He was old school that way, and so am I.

The one bright spot here, is maybe this will add to the growing sense that something "just ain't right" in Chicago. Maybe a little more dirt will stick to that strutting little nitwit mayor. Maybe the Feds will stop vacillating and jump on the mayor and his legions of corrupt minions once and for all.

We can hope, can't we? In the meantime, it was a good look at the kind of people who will be enforcing any draconian gun laws our fine legislators dream up for us.

It seems like every other week another of his legion goes to trial for corruption. How long do the Feds need to build a case? Rome was built in less time.

The Meigs Field bulldozers should have been the thing that got him busted, but he seems to be made of teflon.

The previous posters are correct, the officers that let this cretin continue need to answer for this. Right up to the mayor. (I refuse to call this person his honor, since he has none.)

Way to tarnish the badge, ****stick!

People keep telling me I should be a cop

And I keep telling them 'uh uh'.
This is only one more example of why. Makes me sick that people still have respect for law enforcement when they collectively refuse to denounce behavior like this.

And I keep telling them 'uh uh'.
This is only one more example of why. Makes me sick that people still have respect for law enforcement when they collectively refuse to denounce behavior like this.

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Join my department. As long as you don't do something completely stupid or asinine, you'll do alright. However if you do, start looking for another job.

Join my department. As long as you don't do something completely stupid or asinine, you'll do alright. However if you do, start looking for another job.

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Good for you guys, that is just as it should be.

I spent most of my 40 years in Chicago. I can remember only negitive interactions with the police there. This includes drunk cops on duty, being run off the road by a cop and then having him brandish a weapon not to mention a number of incedents when I was a teenager of cops driving around in umarked cars shaking down teens for booze and drugs: No arrests, nothing in writing but guess who got to keep the booty?

I've had enough interaction with other police forces, towns, state troopers and such, to know that this unprofessional behaviour is not typical of all forces, however, it's not out of the ordinary in Chicago. Many of the cops are nothing but thugs with legal guns. Seems the good ones look the other way. In Chicago, it's best not to involve the police if not absolutely necessary. The motto means only to serve and protect themselves.

Do you suppose anyone on the force even asks themselves why it's "Us against them?"

For those that asked, if the police start to shake you down, make noise, lots of it, step into light, and ask for a supervisor, drop a name, and nowadays get your cell phone out for photos.

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You will get shot in Chicago if you do that. They think it's a gun. Google it.
This is Chicago we're talking about here folks. This is the same government that is trying to ban most guns.

I don't know if this has been posted, but on the news today, they were saying that many of the people were afraid to step in because they didn't know if the officer was armed or not. Now isn't this the reason to have CCW? To make the playing field level against someone doing harm? What a wonderful place Chicagoland is.

I love it. "Allegedly attacked the bartender"....I think we should ban the word "Allegedly" from use in crime reporting if it's blatantly obvious (i.e. video) that they did it. This guy needs to be charged with attempted murder, the same as you or me if we got plowed and started kicking a much smaller woman who's already down from being hit. This guy is slime, and if Chicago has anything resembling law left in it, he'll get the full force of it.

Maybe it's time for "60 Minutes" to pay a visit to Chicago.

They PROBABLY won't get shot... probably...

I think Chicago brought in O.W. Wilson to "clean up" the Chicago PD, when I was very young. I guess it didn't take. Oh well, at least he instituted the cute little checkerboards on their hats...

Way to tarnish the badge, f*ckstick!

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Amen, friend. Amen!

I wish I had been there. It would have been lights out for Mr. Woman Beater, and if I had seen a sidearm, it would have been stuffed up his ***.

Morons who beat people like that should be put in prison for a long time.

COPS who beat people like that should ROT in prison. First, charge them with Aggravated Assault. When they are convicted, send them to prison, seize EVERYTHING they own, sell it, and give the proceeds to the victim.

To the other posters:

Whether you believe it or not, the vast majority of us DO protect and serve. This bully is in the minority. Unfortunately, it seems that a majority of the minority live in Chicago.

Powderman
(who left Chicago on October 6th, 1977 and hasn't lived there SINCE)

This "Adam-Henry" should be hung by the jewels from the highest project building in Chicago. Not only is he a drunken jagoff but he likes to beat women as well. I hope that woman sues him for everything he's got.

Gosh! Here's a little tidbit that seems to have been largely overlooked! From WBBM TV's website:

He was also named in a civil rights suit back then. That plaintiff is deceased.

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Oh boy, do we need details on THAT one!!!

Update - Further research (WMAQ, I think) indicates that the civil rights suit arose out of the beating of a suspect in custody, and that the suspect later DIED. This guy's a real piece of work, ain't he?

I think the Trib or Sun Times website now indicates that a grand jury has been convened to investigate the actions of the policeman (policemen?) who alternately attempted to bribe and intimidate the victim and her employer.

The Justice Department needs to take a LONG, HARD look at the Chicago PD.

BTW this happened 6 weeks ago, the COP went into rehab for a month. When he got out he was charged wit a misdemeanor. When the tape was played on TV the state AG interceded and charged him with a felony.

the COP went into rehab for a month

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I wonder just how many SECONDS the Chicago PD would allow any of US to remain in "rehab" after doing something similar to a policewoman? You or I would exit "rehab" via a third floor window. I guarantee you that you wouldn't get into an unmarked squad car WITHOUT handcuffs.

Earth to George Bush: Want to take some of the heat off? Announce a COMPREHENSIVE investigation of the Chicago PD at all levels. It's the ONLY way anything will EVER be done, and THAT'S the longest of longshots.

Ant time someone is robbed at an ATM the police stress that you should not resist. Every time a store owner defends himself there's an officer on the news that night telling everyone else not to do the same, that the owner was stupid to do so.

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Well that just shows how often the police are wrong.

And to all the cops that are here like Powderman, Rattlesnake, et al, sorry if it seems like you're on the receiving end of our ire, but your attitudes have shown that you know this is not an all-encompassing LEO attack. Your kind will always have my respect.

And to all the cops that are here like Powderman, Rattlesnake, et al, sorry if it seems like you're on the receiving end of our ire, but your attitudes have shown that you know this is not an all-encompassing LEO attack.

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And more to the point, this is a specifically CHICAGO thing. I can't believe that a Rocky River, Ohio cop could even conceive of doing the sorts of things which the Chicago PD does on a routine basis.

The Chicago PD is to normal police departments as the London bus bombers are to the Pakistani dentist and his family who live next door to you.

The victim and her lawyer were on O'Reilly tonight. It really looks like Phil Cline and his accomplices and henchmen are going to have a really rough time of it in the coming weeks and months... if nothing happens to the victim and witnesses...