The City Council’s Finance Committee has given initial approval to a $261 million settlement for police misconduct in Chicago. This agreement aims to address 16 lawsuits against Detective Reynaldo Guevara, accused of framing men for murder. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration proposed the settlement, highlighting its significance and impact on the city’s finances.
Aldermen expressed mixed feelings about the settlement’s size. Ald. Raymond Lopez, from the 15th ward, described it as a difficult yet necessary decision, comparing it to “bad medicine.” The full City Council is expected to vote on this historic deal by the end of the month. If passed, it will be the largest police misconduct settlement in Chicago’s history.
The lawsuits involve 17 men who spent a total of 384 years wrongfully imprisoned due to alleged misconduct by Guevara. The settlement amounts to approximately $680,000 per year of wrongful imprisonment, according to Law Department attorney Jessica Felker. She stressed that settling these cases is in the taxpayers’ best interest, preventing potentially higher costs if the city loses individual court cases.
The settlement negotiations, mediated by U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland, lasted 10 months. Felker stated that the agreement ensures predictable financial exposure and allows for staggered payments over time. Even with the settlement, Chicago still faces 23 pending cases related to Guevara, with additional lawsuits possible.
The law firm Loevy & Loevy represents the 17 plaintiffs, and Felker estimated they would receive a typical 40% share of the settlement. Despite the financial burden, aldermen view this as a responsible step towards resolving the city’s legal liabilities. Ald. Bill Conway, vice chair of the Finance Committee, acknowledged the settlement’s “gigantic, but responsible” nature.
If approved, the settlement will be paid out over four installments in 2027 and 2028. This will notably impact Chicago’s budget, which often exceeds planned allocations for police-related lawsuits. To accommodate this cost, Johnson’s administration plans to budget $401 million for lawsuits and court verdicts next year, avoiding the need for additional debt.
Ald. Lopez urged better budgeting for such incidents, cautioning that the city needs to monitor expenditures closely. Ald. Nick Sposato also emphasized the need for resolution, encouraging the council to address remaining settlements swiftly to avoid burdening future councils.
Regarding future policing practices, Felker mentioned that all interrogations are now recorded, and the department operates under a consent decree with new oversight bodies. Despite his alleged actions, Guevara retains his city pension due to the absence of any criminal conviction, sparking frustration among some aldermen like Ald. Jeanette Taylor.
This settlement could become the most expensive police scandal in Chicago’s history, surpassing the $210 million spent on previous cases involving former Commander Jon Burge. Guevara, who retired 10 years ago, has denied any wrongdoing, though many of his cases have been overturned, granting the accused certificates of innocence. Guevara consistently opted to remain silent during legal proceedings, leading to substantial financial implications for the city.