Chicago DUI lawyer comments on the prison sentence for a former Chicago DUI Top Cop

Yesterday former Chicago DUI Top Cop William Cozzi, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for a guilty plea in federal court to violating the civil rights of a citizen. He had previously pled guilty in state court back in 2007 to criminal charges from the beating of a man who was in leg shackles and a wheel chair as well as falsifiying police reports, the man was charged with resisting a police officer. After successfully, completing his two year sentence he was scheduled to come back on the Chicago Police force prior to the federal charges being filed.

June 11 Chicago, Il

Cozzi pleaded guilty to the federal charge in January after he was accused of violating the man’s civil rights. Cozzi was charged in 2008, less than three months after the Sun-Times obtained a copy of the videotape and reported then-incoming police Supt. Weis was unhappy Cozzi had not been fired.

The beating occurred Aug. 2, 2005, at Norwegian American Hospital in Humboldt Park.

Prosecutors said the tape shows Cozzi hitting Randle Miles 11 times. Though Miles does not appear to resist, he was charged with resisting arrest.

Cozzi pleaded guilty in 2007 to misdemeanor battery and got 18 months’ probation. He was due to return to work after serving that probation until he was hit with federal charges.

They say the cameras don't lie. I guess you can make up your own mind whether the sentence is too harsh for Mr. Cozzi.