Chicago DUI lawyer comments on rally against Chicago Cops charged with DUI

The other day I was leaving the courthouse in downtown Chicago.  I walked right into a bevy of homemade posters and signs. "Honk for Justice" and  DUI-"Detective Under Investigation".

They were supporters of the two young men who died in the tragic accident involving a Chicago Police Officer accused of a DUI.  Unfortunately, there have been two such incidents in as many years here in Chicago. I have blogged about each account here and here.

A DUI is sometimes a sign of a drinking problem for the driver.  We need to do everything we can to prevent the DUI in the first place.  At the risk of stating the obvious, the punishment after such tragic circumstances can never undo the wrong, nor bring back the four lives that were lost.

A few professions, Police Officer included, carry a higher risk for alcohol-related problems. You may know an Officer who you believe has a drinking problem. It is easy to vilify those who we believe are, or should be, held to a higher standard, especially when we learn that they may have been 'enabled' in their drinking by fellow Officers. In the belief that impaired Officers suspected of DUI were provided get-out-of-jail-free cards by their fellow Officers, it is easy to turn against the suspected drunk drivers.  A moment's further thought tells us that the police culture is a bigger culprit; the culture that allows one Officer to turn a blind eye to another's drunk driving is the problem. As they say in soccer, go for the ball, not the man. Let's hope Mr. Weis has that aspect of Chicago's Police culture on his radar screen.