Sophie Sherry

2 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Sophie Sherry

The bribery trial of former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza has been moved to January of next year after prosecutors requested more time to get the new U.S. attorney “up to speed.”La Schiazza’s first trial, on charges of bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, ended in September with a hung jury. In December, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman rejected the former utility executive’s long-shot bid for an acquittal and set a trial for June.

2 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Sophie Sherry

More than five years ago, a police research firm recommended that the Chicago Police Department overhaul its homicide investigations to address low clearance rates. This week, the group reported that the department has since made significant improvements to its staffing and training. “The Chicago homicide unit divisions look substantially different today than they did in 2018,” said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum.

3 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Sophie Sherry |Fran Spielman

The head of a civilian oversight commission complained Thursday that proposed changes to the Chicago Police Department’s controversial traffic stop policy would still allow drivers to be pulled over for minor traffic offenses. The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability said officers should be banned from making stops for certain violations, such as missing only a front license plate, a non-functioning headlight or loud music.

3 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Sophie Sherry

A man was charged with attacking the mother of his child and kidnapping the 2-month-old infant who he allegedly threw over a fence last week in Edgewater, prosecutors said Monday. Nickolas Watts, 19, was ordered detained pending trial Monday after a judge found his actions showed “a gross disregard for the safety of the child.” Watts and the child’s mother, 18, got into a physical altercation Friday afternoon at the Granville Red Line Station, 1119 W Granville Ave., according to prosecutors.

1 month ago | nbcchicago.com | Tom Schuba |Sophie Sherry

Mayor Brandon Johnson is now being forced to reconsider his decision to shut down the controversial ShotSpotter system — a move that set off a search for police technologies that some business leaders have slammed as slipshod and frantic. SoundThinking, ShotSpotter’s parent company, is among eight firms that submitted proposals to provide citywide “gun violence detection technology,” according to records from the bidding process, which ended Friday.