Final Tally: Chicago Taxpayers Spent At Least $107.5M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits in 2024, Analysis Finds
Chicago taxpayers spent at least $107.5 million to resolve lawsuits alleging Chicago police officers committed a wide range of misconduct — including wrongful convictions and improper pursuits — in 2024, setting a new record, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News.
That is the most Chicago taxpayers have paid to resolve police misconduct lawsuits in a single year since 2011, and 43% more than in 2023, according to WTTW News’ analysis of reports released by the Chicago Department of Law.
Annually, the city sets aside $82 million to cover the cost of police misconduct lawsuits. The actual cost of resolving those lawsuits in 2024 was nearly 31% more than anticipated, forcing taxpayers to spend an extra $25.5 million, according to the analysis. In 2024, the City Council scrambled to close a $982.4 million budget deficit by hiking taxes by $165 million.
During the past six years, while the Chicago Police Department has been subject to a federal court order to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers, taxpayers have spent at least $472.4 million to resolve police misconduct lawsuits, according to the WTTW News analysis.
WTTW News’ analysis of settlements and verdicts reached in 2024 included all cases identified by the Chicago Law Department as caused by some form of police misconduct, including false arrest, excessive force, extended detention, malicious prosecution and illegal search or seizure that resulted in a jury verdict against the city or that the Chicago City Council agreed to resolve with a payment.
It does not include cases involving motor vehicle collisions other than crashes caused by pursuits launched by officers.
In 2024, city officials resolved at least 122 lawsuits alleging police misconduct, according to WTTW News’ data analysis. The largest payment by taxpayers for a single incident — $20 million — went to a 15-year-old boy who was gravely injured when a Chicago police officer launched an unauthorized pursuit in 2021.
Nathen Jones needs around-the-clock care and is unable to walk, speak or feed himself as a result of the crash. In addition to the $20 million from taxpayers, the city’s insurance company paid Jones $25 million in one of the largest settlements in city history.
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