A 2015 Better Government Association news story about a Forest Park police officer accused of raping an intern and still keeping his job – while Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office conducted a questionable investigation into the allegations – was one of two BGA articles named as a finalist in the Herman Kogan Media Awards Competition.
The Forest Park article, which ran in the Chicago Sun-Times as well as on the BGA’s web site, was titled “Accused Of Raping Intern, Cop Still On Force” and “found irregularities with how police and prosecutors handled the allegations – raising questions about whether they took the woman’s claims seriously enough or otherwise showed [the officer] favoritism.”
The other BGA story, also from last year, was headlined “Did Ex-Chicago Detective Frame Multiple Suspects.”
The article detailed allegations that a now-retired detective helped rig numerous murder investigations in which the wrong people may have ended up in prison.
The BGA found that “Chicago’s municipal government has already paid nearly $20 million to investigate, defend and settle misconduct allegations” against the ex-cop.
Both stories were authored by BGA Senior Investigator Andrew Schroedter and were named finalists in the online category. Winners of the Kogan awards will be announced May 10.
“We’re extremely proud to be nominated for these awards,” said BGA President and CEO Andy Shaw. “Criminal justice is a critical – and timely – issue, and it’s area of deep interest to us.”
