Chicago law enforcement groups are on alert for college protests, records shows. Demonstrators allege "excessive force" was used to clear encampments.Encampment protests at university campuses in Chicago and across the state of Illinois are raising red flags for law enforcement, as well as excessive force complaints by the public.
The four-page brief was prepared last week by analysts at ISP's Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center in Springfield, known as the STIC. The center monitors threats and violence across Illinois in real time and acts as an intelligence clearinghouse for public safety menaces and potentially violent trends.
Police records obtained by the I-Team show after hours of negotiations with demonstrators -- which included the Art Institute providing a new location for protesters to relocate to -- no one agreed to leave and Chicago police moved in, arresting 68 people on trespassing charges, which were eventually dropped.
All six complaints are still under investigation by COPA and police internal affairs. No officers have been disciplined.