From NBC Chicago
A close vote by the police pension board rules that former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge will get to keep his pension, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Burge was convicted last June of lying under oath about torturing suspects into confessions.He was sentenced in a federal courthouse to 4 1/2 years on obstruction of justice and perjury charges.
State pension code says that police officers are not eligible to collect their pensions if they are convicted of a felony relating or connected to their job as a police officer. The board stated today that Burge’s conviction doesn’t directly relate to his job.
Five votes were needed to prevent Burge from receiving his pension of $3,039.03 per month. Today’s vote was 4-4.
During his sentencing earlier this month, the 63-year-old Burge apologized for the disrepute that his case has brought on the Chicago Police Department and asked the federal judge for mercy in her sentencing.
Judge Joan Lefkow said she did not believe Burge’s claim that he had no knowledge of the torture that occurred under his command.
She said she has been disturbed by some of the letters that have been written by the victims and their families.
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