Chicago police clear officers of racial profiling in stop of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

CHICAGO TRIBUNE ^ | 2/9/2017 | Jeremy Gorner

[KeyLargo]

Chicago police clear officers of racial profiling in stop of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

On Aug. 4, 2016, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush was pulled over in Bronzeville. He was let go without a ticket being issued, but later filed a complaint with IPRA alleging racial profiling. This video contains body cam footage from one of the officers that Rush filed the complaint against. (Source: CPD)

Chief spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the department's Bureau of Internal Affairs found that the two Wentworth District officers acted properly because they had probable cause to make the stop. Earlier that day, officers at roll call had been told to be on the lookout for high-end vehicles because of a rash of thefts throughout the South Side.

The officers stopped Rush, who is black, in his Lexus RX after learning from a police dispatcher that its license plate was registered to a different vehicle, according to Guglielmi.

Later Thursday, Rush told the Tribune he complained to the Police Department to stand up for people in his community who have gone through "similar harassment" from police.

"There was no rhyme or reason for them to stop me," he said.

The approximately 7 1/2-minute video — obtained by the Chicago Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act request — shows that throughout the stop, the officer and Rush spoke to each other in calm tones. However, at about six minutes into the video, Rush challenges the validity of the stop.

He asked for the officer's name and star number, saying, "This is my district, and I have never been so embarrassed and humiliated."

"Well, you shouldn't be embarrassed, I mean, we're ..." a female officer said in a reassuring tone.

"Don't tell me what I should be,"

[haircutter]

hum mm....flipping license plates from auto to auto???

isn't that against the law?

Just wondering.

[haircutter]

ops..
should have read the entire posts,

others also mentioned this...

SO THE DUDE WAS IN THE WRONG? is HE STILL IN OFFICE?

[Paladin2]

If the plate is legal and the vehicle has proof of insurance it seems like a little bit nuanced situation when done by a ‘Rat Representative of The People.....