Justice Delayed

Chicago aldermen called for action against former police lieutenant Jon Burge, who was at the heart of a police torture scandal, which hung over the city for decades. Hearings held 7/24/07 found extensive evidence that torture took place under Burge.

Audio Embed: Chicago Public Radio 7/25/07, Reporter: Ben Calhoun.

The process took nearly three more years, but in Chicago on Monday 6/28/10, that former lieutenant was convicted on all counts of federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges. The statute of limitations had run out on the actual torture, but not on his lying about abusing suspects during a civil suit in 2003 when he denied ever witnessing abuse or participating in torture... Statements Burge repeated at his trial.

Over decades, dozens of men claimed that Jon Burge and and his underlings routinely beat and tortured suspects to pry out confessions. Burge now faces up to 45 years in prison.

Audio Embed: Morning Edition 6/29/10, Reporter: Robert Wildeboer, Chicago Public Radio.

For some, the conviction marks the end of a tragic chapter in the city's history. Others, including federal prosecutors, suggest it could be just a start.

While no other perjury or obstruction of justice indictments have been announced, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has said the investigation into the decades-long cover-up is ongoing.