Lt. Andrew Dakuras, a 29-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, has become a symbol of the city’s longstanding issues with police misconduct, costing taxpayers over $10 million in settlements. His extensive history of misconduct complaints, reaching a whopping 82, makes him one of the most controversial figures in the department. Despite this, he managed to remain on the force for nearly three decades, raising questions about internal accountability and the mechanisms in place for addressing officer misconduct.
Dakuras’s Misconduct and Legal Settlements
Throughout his career, Dakuras has been named in at least five lawsuits involving allegations of misconduct, some of which have led to significant financial settlements paid by the city of Chicago. The city’s taxpayers have shouldered $10.5 million in settlement costs related to these cases, with more costs expected to rise as new claims emerge.
One of the most alarming cases involved Jeanette Bass, a former resident of Chicago’s Gold Coast, who claimed Dakuras physically and emotionally abused her in 2019. The incident culminated in Bass being involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric ward, a move that her attorney, George Kulis, described as Dakuras exploiting her emotional vulnerability. The city is poised to pay an additional $332,500 to settle Bass’s lawsuit.
A Pattern of Excessive Force
In addition to the Bass case, Dakuras has faced numerous other allegations of excessive force. Notably, in 2016, during celebrations for the Chicago Cubs’ World Series win, Dakuras was accused of kicking and slamming a man’s head into the pavement outside Wrigley Field. Although the charges of battery were eventually dismissed, Dakuras was convicted of resisting arrest, leading to a $35,000 settlement from the city, with Dakuras personally paying an additional $18,000.
Why Was Dakuras Allowed to Stay on the Force?
Dakuras’s record is troubling, not only for the volume of complaints but also because he has been promoted despite this history. With more misconduct complaints than 99% of other officers, how Dakuras ascended to the rank of lieutenant and remained on the force for nearly 30 years remains a mystery. This raises critical questions about the Chicago Police Department’s oversight and discipline practices.
Although police officers can be targets of unfounded complaints, the sheer volume and severity of the allegations against Dakuras suggest that systemic issues are at play within the department. The fact that he has continued to serve until being stripped of his police powers in July 2023, following a viral video in which he allegedly used a racial slur, adds to concerns about the effectiveness of accountability measures within the force.
Impact on Public Trust
Dakuras’s case is emblematic of broader issues within the Chicago Police Department, where trust remains low, particularly among marginalized communities. A 2019 Gallup and Center for Advancing Opportunity report found that 59% of low-income residents in Chicago knew someone who had been treated unfairly by the police. The city spent a staggering $51.5 million in 2022 alone to settle misconduct lawsuits involving officers.
Public outrage over these incidents, combined with persistent concerns about over-enforcement and a lack of community policing, has eroded confidence in the ability of the Chicago Police Department to serve and protect all residents fairly. Dakuras’s long tenure, despite his track record, highlights the urgent need for reform within the department to restore public trust and prevent further incidents of abuse.
