Burge police torture victims would share $5.5M under proposed deal

CHICAGO (WLS) -- After more than 20 years of protests, lawsuits and payouts, the city appears ready to sign off on a deal with the people who said they were tortured by former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge.

City Council will introduce the deal when it meets later Wednesday morning. The mayor hopes it will help close a dark chapter in Chicago history.

Under the deal, alleged victims of police torture under Burge would share $5.5 million.

They would get an apology from City Council and see their story taught in Chicago Public Schools. Victims and their families would also receive psychological counseling. The deal also includes the creation of a permanent memorial to the victims.

More than 100 people have accused Burge and his officers of shocking them with cattle prods, beating them with phone books and suffocating them with bags until they gave false confessions. The alleged torture took place over nearly two decades, ending in 1991.

While some have already settled for thousands or millions of dollars, the dozens left can each receive up to $100,000 under the proposed ordinance.

"I am grateful that sound minds came together and did something. Something is better than nothing, any day," said Darrell Cannon, one of the victims.

Burge, 67, was fired from the Chicago Police Department in 1993. He was never criminally charged with torture, but was convicted in 2010 of lying about torture in a civil case and served 4 1/2 years in federal custody. Still drawing his pension, he was released from a Florida halfway house in February.

While many believe the deal may not perfect, some said it is a form of closure.

"I think it's s great beginning. I think it's a great start. I mean at least we're making a formal apology to the victims of torture," said Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward.

"Someone can say if nothing else they apologized, we got something for it and we may not be wealthy, but we may be able to live on something like this," said Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th Ward.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.