Chicago withdraws objection to release of shooting video

City lawyers filed a motion with a federal judge to vacate protective orders covering videos that showed the shooting a Cedric Chatman by members of the Chicago Police Department.

The city’s law office declined to comment on the possible timing of any release of the video. It’s not clear when it will be released to the public.

“With respect to the release of videos of police incidents, the city of Chicago is working to find the right balance between the public’s interest in disclosure and the importance of protecting the integrity of investigations and the judicial process”, Patton said in a written statement.

Federal judge Robert W. Gettleman said in court Thursday he was “disturbed” by how the city handled the situation and ruled the risk of tainting a jury pool with the video’s release is minimal because of the publicity surrounding the shooting.

City attorneys said in a Wednesday filing that the city was dropping its opposition in an effort to be more transparent while it waits for a recently created special task force to review policies regarding the release of videos showing disputed police shootings. NBC 5’s Chris Coffey reports. And as WLS has reported, 50 to 60 Chicago ministers say they will boycott Emanuel’s interfaith breakfast for the Martin Luther King holiday.

Cedrick Chatman, 17, was shot as he fled from two officers on January 7, 2013. According to prosecutors, Chatman and two other men were planning to buy cellphone service from a dealer, and an argument ensued. Court documents say several surveillance cameras recorded police running after the 17-year-old in a South Shore neighborhood during daylight hours and recorded one officer fatally shooting him.

Chatman was reportedly running away and when he turned to face the officers as directed who ordered him to stop, according to the family’s lawsuit.

Andy Hale, an attorney for Chicago police officers Kevin Fry and Lou Toth, said the videos will back up their version of the story. The teen was holding a black iPhone box.

The city could release the video of Cedrick Chatman’s death within hours if the judge lifts a protective order, as expected.

Chatman’s mother, Linda, has said her son did not deserve what happened.

“If Mr. Emanuel really wants to stand by his words of transparency and change, here’s his opportunity to do it”, he said.

“Some people may need to lose their jobs and that’s the unfortunate part of it, but we can not keep going on the same path we are right now because this does not work for anybody”, Coffman said.

In response to the wrongful death lawsuit, the city previously denied there was any cover up.

Davis states the video “shows a shooting that should not have occurred”, and that a new investigator assigned to the case was “glaringly biased”, he told CNN.

The Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates police shootings, cleared the officer who shot Chatman of any wrongdoing.

Moreover, Davis was sacked from the IPRA for failing to succumb to pressure from superiors and refusing to clear six officers – including Fry in the Chatman killing – who were under investigation.

“In my view, if you do not have to kill a person, then why would you?” he said.