The five alderpeople who represent Englewood blasted on Monday a decision by Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to allow Chicago police officers to file felony gun charges without first getting approval from a prosecutor, even as Mayor Brandon Johnson said the program was worth trying.
The Felony Review Bypass Pilot Program allows Chicago police officers to charge those arrested in two South Side police districts with unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, which are felonies, without getting the approval of an assistant state’s attorney after a CPD lieutenant signs off.
The pilot program has been in effect in the Englewood (7th) Police District since January and expanded Friday to include the Calumet (5th) Police District. More than 85% of the residents of those two police districts are Black, according to city data…