NCJ Number
48509
Date Published
1977
Length
233 pages
Annotation
THE STORY OF A BLACK POLICE OFFICER'S STRUGGLE TO END CHICAGO'S LONG HISTORY OF DEPARTMENTAL RACISM IS RECOUNTED.
Abstract
SOON AFTER RENAULT ROBINSON, AN INTELLIGENT AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED YOUNG BLACK MAN, JOINED THE CHICAGO POLICE FORCE, HE ENCOUNTERED A PERVASIVE AND DEEP-SEATED RACIAL BIGOTRY WHICH EVENTUALLY DROVE HIM AND A HANDFUL OF BLACK OFFICERS TO ORGANIZE THE AFRO-AMERICAN PATROLMEN'S LEAGUE, IN ORDER TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE INTERNAL OPERATIONS OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE LEAGUE WAS ORGANIZED TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE DEPARTMENT, TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE POLICE OFFICERS, AND TO BRING ABOUT POLICE REFORM. HOWEVER, ROBINSON AND OTHER LEAGUE MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WERE SOON INVOLVED IN A RACIAL CONTROVERSY THAT RESULTED IN ROBINSON'S SUSPENSION, DEPARTMENTAL PLOTS TO LINK THE LEAGUE WITH CRIMINAL CONSPIRACIES, AND EVENTUALLY, TO ROBINSON'S REINSTATEMENT AND COURT DECISION THAT WOULD AFFECT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE GROWTH OF THE LEAGUE AND ROBINSON'S PERSONAL STRUGGLES ARE EXAMINED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE LEAGUE'S FOUNDING, ROBINSON'S CHARACTER AND ENTHUSIASM FOR POLICE WORK; THE DEPARTMENTAL PRESSURE THAT FOLLOWED THE LEAGUE'S INITIAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT RACISM; THE TENSE SUMMER FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.; ROBINSON'S SUSPENSION, THE HARASSMENT HE SUFFERED AFTER HIS SUSPENSION, AND HIS ARREST FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT; THE LAW SUIT FILED BY THE LEAGUE AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR RICHARD DALEY; INCIDENTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST BLACK CITIZENS; THE 1972 CAMPAIGN AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY; THE LEAA RESPONSE TO CHARGES OF RACISM WITHIN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT; ROBINSON'S REASSIGNMENT TO INTOLERABLE DUTIES; THE CIVIL TRIAL CONCERNING JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CHARGES OF RACISM WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; ROBINSON'S SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO GET FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS FOR CHICAGO CUT OFF; AND THE LEAGUE'S AND ROBINSON'S EVENTUAL COURT VICTORY. AN EPILOGUE AND INDEX ARE INCLUDED.