Lawsuit Accuses Chicago Police of Repeated Use of Excessive Force in Officer Shootings

A new lawsuit alleges the fatal shooting of Timothy Glaze Dean by Chicago police is part of a longstanding pattern of excessive force by the department. Glaze Dean, 39, was killed on January 3 inside a Little Village apartment building after police responded to a wellbeing check. Body-camera footage shows officers arriving, entering the building, and announcing themselves. Seconds later, Glaze Dean appears in the hallway holding a knife. Just two seconds after he comes into view, officers open fire, ultimately shooting him 20 times.

According to attorney Greg Kulis, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Glaze Dean’s estate, police fired additional rounds even after Dean had dropped the knife and was no longer a threat. “The police don't say, drop the knife. They don't say, police, put your hands up, drop the knife, step back,” Kulis told ABC7's I-Team. He argued the officers failed to attempt any de-escalation and compared the incident to previous controversial killings by CPD, including Laquan McDonald and Dexter Reed, who were shot 16 and 13 times respectively.

“I think it's become a practice of policy to obliterate the threat and obliterate the source of the threat,” Kulis said, citing what he describes as a systemic failure within the department. He also raised concerns about continued use of deadly force after a threat has been neutralized. “That doesn't mean you can continue to use that deadly force when the threat is gone, because at that point, maybe somebody would have survived,” he added.

Neither of the officers involved had prior misconduct allegations. ABC7 chose not to name them, as no charges have been filed. Former police chief and ABC7 Police Affairs Consultant Bill Kushner defended the officers’ actions, saying, “The officer responded to his training... He responded with lethal force.” He noted that semi-automatic weapons allow for rapid fire and said the officers rendered aid and called for an ambulance after the shooting.

A protest is planned, marking three months since Glaze Dean’s death. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is currently investigating the case. Chicago police have not commented.

Link: ABC7

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