Officer Herrera Goes Public

Indicted Chicago Police Officer Tells 60 Minutes His "Bosses" Knew Of And Encouraged Lies

(CBS)  When seven of the Chicago Police Department's most elite cops were charged with crimes including armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion- and one of them was even accused of planning a murder-the nation's second largest police force was thrown into turmoil.

They were members of a unit known as "SOS," the Special Operations Section, the department's answer to violence that once made Chicago the murder capital of the country. But what 60 Minutes has learned paints a disturbing picture of a chain of command that put such a premium on getting guns and drugs off the streets that officers felt justified breaking the law to do so.

One of those indicted officers is 30-year-old Keith Herrera. He's been telling his story in private to federal investigators. Now, out on bail, he tells it publicly to Katie Couric and takes 60 Minutes inside a world where cops who did so much good ended up accused of doing so much wrong.

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Prosecutors have said Herrera and his partners were bold, brazen and malicious. His response?

"I say I was doin' my job. I went to work every day, put my star on, put my gun on and got the bad guys off the street," he tells Couric. "I was doing my job and I was told I was doing a good job."

Until a year and a half ago, Herrera was a rising star in the Special Operations Section. But his promising career collapsed when he and six of his partners were accused of terrorizing the very streets they were policing-busting into homes without warrants, making illegal arrests, and holding people hostage until they handed over guns and drugs-all at a time the SOS unit had virtual autonomy in Chicago's worst neighborhoods.

Asked what his marching orders were, Herrera says, "Get the guns, and get the drugs off the street. No matter what. At any cost. Just get 'em off."

Herrera says the mandate from his bosses was clear: the ends justify the means. SOS hauled in big caches of weapons and drugs, and across the city, the crime rate plummeted.

"Policing the way we did it, there were just certain steps that you had to take," Herrera says. "We're dealing with convicted felons, we're dealing with bad people, we're dealing with drug dealers. If you want these people to go to jail, you have to cross the line sometimes."

Asked what his supervisors thought of his techniques, Herrera tells Couric, "Keep it up. Long as you got the guns, long as you got the drugs, long as you're getting the bad guys, keep it up.' And if they tell you 'Keep it up,' you keep it up."

He says it was like making a deal with the devil. For example, if a suspect tossed a gun to avoid arrest, Herrera says it was obvious how to make the case stick: lie, and say the gun never left the suspect's hand.

"Do you want that guy that's running down the street, that just shot somebody to not go to jail 'cause he threw the gun? Or do you want him to go to jail because he never let the gun out of his hand? He knows what he's gotta do, and I know what I gotta do," Herrera says.

"I get it. But it's also making stuff up," Couric points out.

"It's not making stuff up, it's doing what you gotta do to put bad guys in jail," Herrera argues.

"Changing the story," Couric remarks.

"It happens. That's all I can tell you," Herrera says.

"So there are no Boy Scout police officers doing it by the book out there?" Couric asks.

"Maybe," Herrera says. "This isn't, you know, Podunk, Iowa. This is the city of Chicago. You gotta do a job."

[hologram5]

well hello... all things reflect on management. Everything comes from the top, this is true in every work environment corporate or otherwise.

[haoli25]

News from the Institute of ''Duh''.

[cbsblogger]

well hello... all things reflect on management. Everything comes from the top, this is true in every work environment corporate or otherwise.


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Posted by hologram5 at 12:33 PM : May 30, 2008

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Absolutely. But what normally happens is that those on top get a pass because they are politically connected, while they prosecute the lowest common denominator. Dirty cops should be prosecuted big time, but should include those who create the atmosphere of tolerance for corruption.

[sistatee-2009]

None of this is news since Serpico.

[eXecuTech]

Gee, I''m shocked. It''s the same way in any major city PD. I grew up in Philly, PA and live in Dallas, TX now. Same ***, different cops. Heck, ours even got sent up for busting dudes with fake drugs. It''s all about the illusion of law, order, & justice.

[walt1944-2009]

This reminds me of the last BIG scandal that hit the Chicago Police back in the late 50''s, when it was discovered that cops working the night shift were breaking into warehouses on the south side and grabbing anything they could carry, loading up their squad''s trunks with stolen goods.

Eventually, one cop with some scrupples left, "sang" to the newspapers and it became the biggest scandal since the Capone days. Mayor Daley (sr.) forced the old police chief in "early retirement" and Cook County sherrif''s police started patroling the warehouse districts until the CPD got its act together!

"WE SERVE AND PROTECT"

RIGHT!!!!

[bobbyhustle8]

bajajohn

Maybe you didn''t understand the article so let me clear it up for you. They were talking about a corrupt unit inside the CPD, not a "political system". And bty if you think this is the only dept. that has cops that steal drug money, drugs, or other items that might be of value, you are very naive. Every PD has some form of corruption, but you probably couldn''t miss an opportunity to take a shot at Senator Obama could you?

[gopack443]

Police lying on police reports is news? Happens everyday in every city, always has always will.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Indicted Chicago police officer Keith Herrera says his superiors knew and encouraged him to lie on reports so questionable arrests would stand up in court."

Gee, that''s a real shocker...

[idnnsg]

With the exception of a few honorable people who truly desire to make the world a better place, cops are nothing more than just another criminal gang. They protect their own. Lying, cheating, stealing, killing... whatever it takes.

[idnnsg]

babjohn1 says, "And people are seriously considering giving the Democratic nomination to a man who is a product of this very corrupt political system."

Take a look at Obama''s actual history, fo.ol. He is not a product of "this very corrupt political system". You seem to be ignoring the many other places he lived, such as Hawaii, LA, Columbia University in NY, Harvard Law School in MA, etc. He didn''t even arrive in Chicago until 1996, and while he was there, he wasn''t part of any cop conspiracy to convict "perps". (BTW, this story is about Chicago cops, not about Chicago politics.)

You are really "grasping at straws" to find some excuse to spread FUD about Obama!

[ov442]

This is the same mindset that conservative hawks have. they truly beleive that their policies and agendas are doing unseen good for the American people protecting them and our nations'' interests.....while they break our laws, commit perjury and fraud, and profiteer on the side, justifying it by saying "we do so much good, we Deserve... no we are EnTitled to extras". And they also prefer drastic Revenge methods against anyone that crosses them or goes after them for their crimes. They honestly think that they can commit crimes and do good and it balances out somehow....nope.

The difference is the men on the front lines like these Cops, are in a very high stress, high danger, high tension job and its very very tough to tell them they are being bad when they are doing some good, and some bad, but putting their lives on the line to do it.
As for our hawkish politicians, well, they have NO excuse, they arent putting their lives on the line and they are making much more than these cops snaring some small time cash from convicts.

[carpriddler]

I am entitled to police services because I am a tax paying citizen of the United States of America. If the police have problem with that then I suggest they get in to a new line of work. If the police are under the impression that complaining about them when they conduct themselves criminally doesn%u2019t entitle me to the same protections as those that turn a blind eye to their criminal conduct, they have been misinformed. The days of the police investigating the police are about to come to an end. Harsher penalties for violating the public trust are about to be put into legislation. The real story will be the Police Unions and DA%u2019s lobbying to protect the crooks hiding behind badges and what to do with all the money they have stolen.

[navyjimfl]

just another reason cops are not trusted or respected.....

[bikerb54]

OMG. Higher-ups letting others take the rap for what they approved. That''s never happened before. I can''t believe they''d stand by and let this happen! YEAH, RIGHT. It happens all the time in corporations, city governments, military units. We''ve seen it in the past. Those lower on the ladder have been told before - as long as it gets done, doesn''t matter how it gets done. As long as there are no paper trails, witnesses, or recordings of these orders, they have a hard time proving who told who to do what and how to do it.

No wonder our kids are in getting in trouble, they are taught by example that YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS as long as there is someone else to take the blame.

[Ozark_Sunshine]

ov442 - quit trying to blame this on conservatives it is the liberals who are the ones who feel the ends justify the means. Look at the Democrat party criminals in Chicago that have been indicted and convicted over the years while running Chicago. Look at the politicians the have including their current communist/socialist anarchy loving presidential candidiates. It is the liberals who believe life owes them something and it doesn''t matter how they get it. You need to step back and really look at yourself in the mirror and those around you.

[jerr11]

So what do you expect from the culture of lies spread by our Liar-in-Chief himself?

935 Lies to get us into war to profit his Halliburton buddies.

And "Lying" Alberto Gonzalez who''s still walking free despite having perjured himself!

And who''s been held accountable?

Marion Jones and Barry Bonds!

Lying is okay in the USA if you''re not a sportsperson and black!

[mcv57]

The corruption is so bad in Chicago, the FBI sucks their knee caps. The mayor daley is the crime boss.

[chicago314]

WOW THIS IS KEITH TRYING TO GET INTO THE SPOTLIGHT INORDER TO GET OUT OF THE STUFF HE DID.... I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY AND I KNOW A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THIS CASE AND A LOT OF OTHER SHADY DEALINGS HE HAS HAD ..ALSO IS KEITH ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE STATE WHEN HE IS ON BOND? I THINK NOT BUT HE DOES!!!!

[fishinfool43]

Pressed by Couric that his implication was that few or no officers went by the book, Herrera responds, "Maybe [some obey the rules]. This isn%u2019t%u2026Podunk, Iowa. This is the city of Chicago%u2026.You%u2019ve got to do a job," he says. And he says he was told he was doing a good job. "I got high-fives and honorable mentions and department commendations," says Herrera.

I live in "podunk" Iowa, and it''s only about 3000 people and I am here to tell you they are just as crooked and corrupt as they are in Chicago. The only difference between them and the bad guys is the cops have the badges. Its no wonder nobody has any respect for them. I was raised to respect them but after seeing how they act and handle things, that ALL changed. Now all I feel about them is contempt and disgust. Most deserve to be railroaded into prison, just like they do to everyone else!!!

[my2centss]

...and these are the only people Chicago trusts to be armed?

[popstom1]

Hehehehe and you want obama hahaha not me

[kuei12]

You think Chicago is bad? Try Rockford (crackford) Illinois. Rockford is Chicago''s ghetto and the cops and judges there are unbeliebably crooked. In crackford all the cops do the same stuff this guy is convicted of and worse.

[kuei12]

You think Chicago police are bad? Go to crackRockford Illinois. The police and judges are much worse than what is described here. crackRockford is nothing more than a chicago ghetto. Hell the traffic Judge has a dui and got a promotion and is still in charge of traffic cases.
Cops in crackRockford raid houses and take cash and valuables. And if they don''t find anything illegal they totally destroy people''s homes. They smash the windows, dump food on the floors, tear up the floor and knock holes in the walls. They are totally out of control in crackRockford Illinois.

[veteran72]

"Creative writing was a certain term that bosses used to make sure that the job got done," he says. His bosses, says Herrera, wanted the cases to stick in court. "I didn%u2019t just pick up a pen and just learn how to [lie on reports]. Bosses, guys that I work with who were older than I was%u2026It%u2019s taught to you," he tells Couric.

"Crooked Cops.....Do they come in any other way"?

-"Porter", (Mel Gibson), in "Payback"

[apprxam]

The concept of "getting the job done" would''ve flown if not for the fact that a good number of real criminals, the constant repeat violators that make life in those neighborhoods so tough. The funny thing is that cops in areas like this know who the real criminal are, but insist on sending innocent men to jail or death row.

The poor residents would''nt mind the tactics so much if only they were directed toward violent, brutish thugs, the job would get done and very few would complain but the criminals, their lawyers and those who make a living complaining about the police.

Officer Herrera''s "confessions" of police processes have been the longtime bain of city dwellers most in need of protection from crime, as well as corruption. A little more than a decade ago in NYC, the Mollen Commission uncovered the same systemic abuse of power by cops selling drugs, stealing money and beating innocent and vulnerable minority citizens.

If the tactics helped with crime, instead of making the cops criminals, opinions would probably be different; necessary evils to drive out evil.

[apprxam]

Democrats catches ''em in the city; Republicans store them upstate: Both for profit and votes.

[ericv2644]

I was a police officer and I know what this guy is saying. There is no conspiracy but everyone is expected to their part and when you don''t they make you pay and I paid with blood. It Starts with the Bosses always.

Couric is still pretending she is some sort of investigative reporter. She''s a joke! She has this permanent sneer on her face and seems to find amusement in whatever is said that is totally out of character with the show. Is she just a faded bimbo?

[naln42]

Herrera is nothing but a thug in a uniform!!!!

[haoli25]

Is this news for the "Hard Of Thinking"? Duh.

[rdrsports]

The government will spend billions of dollars a year on inmates in prison, than they will on actual rehabilitation. For more on the amount search yahoo for http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm
This gives an accurate assesment of how much money we spend in a year on the war on drugs. Which if you ask me has caused more harm than good for this country.

People are people. We all bleed the same. We all hurt the same. We all eat. We all drink. We have families that love us, and we all love the people in our families. We live but a short period in time on this earth, and we spend it destroying and taking others lives because we feel what they do is wrong. All is vanity so I do not expect this comment to change anything. But please understand that we are people and some have made mistakes,and some will always make mistakes. There must be another way to handle things. I have some ideas but it would take to long to wirte in this comment. Thank you, good night and good luck

[feelfree4u]

There is a meal, served in the military, with the acronym, SOS.

That acronym applies nicely to these dangerous, corrupt, filthy, criminal pigs.

Dirty pigs are far more of a threat than other criminals. Regular criminals can''t hide their crimes behind a badge.

[apprxam]

A realist perspective, the way things really work permits the occasional violation of the rules, the stretching of truths and the periodical stepping over of lines. But cops like Finnigan with lacking supervison, hero worshipping unit members and occupier apathy toward the community in general makes taking the needed steps to clear these streets of crime near impossible.

Wanting to kill four of his former unit members to protect himself and Mayor Daley''s "only one incident" comment, makes going the extra mile ineffective and questions the validity of the principle itself. Hard work and diligence is required, but you will never get that from officers whose communities aren''t constantly underminded by crime.

[apachegirl1]

HEY CHICAGO314 YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT KEITH OR WHAT IS GOING ON. SO KEEP YOU THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF. LOOK AT YOURSELF BEFORE THROWING THE FIRST STONE. HE WILL PAY FOR HIS DOINGS AND MADE NO COMMENTS ON TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE STUFF HE IS IN.PLEASE DUDE GET REALLY. YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN HIM. AGAIN LOOK AT YOURSELF MR. CHICAGO 314.... I KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE YOUR WORDS ARE DIRT.

[khanghi-2009]

TruUSA

Perhaps you could give us all an example of each of the elements of "Obamatitis" you''ve offered. Or, is this something you just heard from another simpleminded idiot like...oh, say Rush or Hannity?

You see, the problem is people like you and people on the other end of the political spectrum. Those of you in the fringes of reality, (15% on either end) think that the other is the problem. Those of us who dwell within the bell curve of reality and sanity know that it''s the system that is broken, and no one ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE has any interest in fixing it. Their only interest is leading people like you with limited cognitive skills around by the nose.

[allthetime24]

Criminals hate deterrents like rogue cops. Most honest citizens would take an over ambitious police force than cops that don%u2019t show up for 4 hours after a 911 call but super liberal Katie wouldn%u2019t understand that looking down at people from her gated mansion. Let her be a victim of a violent crime and then see the %u201Calleged%u201D criminal get off on a technicality some liberal lawyer dreamed up to put the scum bag back on the street.

[apprxam]

In Russia, the policing and prison system is so harsh, mainly due to social norms, that the criminal element resorts with the same harsh posture. No citizen wants to hamstring their protectors, but they don''t want abusive tactics either. If their is ever a prolonged period of non-responsiveness by police, logic dictates that crime prevention and control would be taken by the people themselves. AllTheTime, it is those very liberals and their nanny-state policies that makes your job necessary because communities aren''t permitted the basic and natural right to self-protect.

[apprxam]

Better policing would thwart most "liberal" lawyering anyday.

[apprxam]

The sense of entitlement by authority figues is also a problem. Case-in-point: That off-duty police officer beating that female bartender for having the gall to refuse his drink order felt slighted and disrespected. I find it hard to believe that this was his first violent incident and that his co-workers, line supervisors and agency brass didn''t know of such.

The ignoring of obviously dangerous members of the department refutes the arguements made over and over again by said department regarding outside oversight and more civilian control.

Clean-up internally is required before status quo pretections can be extended to poorly administered police departments.

[cbsblogger]

TruUSA

Perhaps you could give us all an example of each of the elements of "Obamatitis" you''''ve offered. Or, is this something you just heard from another simpleminded idiot like...oh, say Rush or Hannity?

You see, the problem is people like you and people on the other end of the political spectrum. Those of you in the fringes of reality, (15% on either end) think that the other is the problem. Those of us who dwell within the bell curve of reality and sanity know that it''''s the system that is broken, and no one ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE has any interest in fixing it. Their only interest is leading people like you with limited cognitive skills around by the nose.


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Posted by Khanghi at 08:05 PM : Jun 01, 2008
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Well said my friend. We have too many overly ideological idiots who listen and get their ideas only from their patronage saints, who have sub par IQs.

[nolalou]

If by ''you have the cross the line sometimes'' means taking the law into you own hands, then you crossed it too far, Mr Herrera, and you and your fellow officers who committed that crime deserve to be punished for it, and if it was ordered by your superiors, then they too should be tried, and if found guilty, sent to serious prison time! PERIOD!

[bigboy1069]

This is a dirty miserable excuse for a human being. Whether we like it or not, the Constitution protects the rights of the accused. There is no excuse for his behavior and he needs to do some serious jail time. No protective custody for him becasue he is a cop. Cast him down with the sodomites so he can find out what a truly bad person is.

[patriot12436]

I resigned from my deparment because of politics. Two years later i testified for a person who was suspected of having family ties. I had been told when i first went to work to bust this guy every chance i got because he was dirty, in 6 years i never caught him doing anything wrong. My department tried to hang him with false charges and i tesitified onhis behalf that they had told me to get him. All charges were dropped and i was austracized by my department for telling the truth. I did the job the way i was told we had too. We took an oath to be honest and i was. They didn''t like it when it worked against them. The man was known to have connections but now days the family is getting awy from illegal enterprises and going legit. If i couldn''t catch the man by playing by the rule book then too bad. I took an oath of honor.

[patriot12436]

Yopur right i takes a lot of courage. In a case like this his life could well be in danger. He should be in protctive custody.

[rlm965]

Maybe we could look at LAPD closer too.

[goodcop2]

On behalf of thousands of honorable Chicago Police with integrity and courage, consider this a desperate cry for HELP.

Under Mayor Daley, Chicago is the MOST POLITICALLY CORRUPT major city in the USA.

To casual visitors, tourist areas of Chicago give the appearance of a beautiful city of skyscrapers with a magnificent lakefront.

Beneath this facade, Daley''s corrupt political "CLOUT" has a stranglehold on the Chicago P.D.

Morale is non-existent. The corruption described in Ms. Couric''s interview displays only the bottom tip of "the Chicago Way". It starts with the first "domino"--Daley. Like a metastasizing cancer, political connections, nepotism and outright bribery are the determining factors in promotions, assignments and other perks in the CPD with no regard for ability, excellence and leadership qualities. Ergo, we have incompetent political hacks running the CPD.

While U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, has many convictions of politicians, he can''t walk on water. Many officers perceive local media to be "in bed with Daley". He makes Machiavelli come out as a boy scout. While he is not a bright man, he is a political genius run amok.

Policing is a most noble calling in which we took great satisfaction in defending the innocent and defenseless and locking up the bad guys. Indeed, all too many officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We desperately need outside help. Any "top cop" appointed by Daley is merely a puppet.

PLEASE HELP US!

[goodcop2]

FYI:

The unsanctioned Chicago Police "Second City Cop" blog site follows with extensive commentary on this "60 Minutes" segment:

www.SecondCityCop.blogspot.com

Come visit. God bless the First Amendment.

The above blog site often includes the posts of invariably anonymous CPD officers, active and retired, commenting as citizens on matters of public concern. It also contains the drivel of impostors and trolls.

The reader must sort the wheat from the chaff.

[patriot12436]

goodcop2
I guess obama is too busy to help with problems in his home town, or maybe he is part of th problem. I wish you luck. What you are asking is very hard to get. I hope you succeed. I also agree for every bad cop there is a 100 good ones. Keepup the great job , we need more honest cops like you.

[scclover]

Katie, why don''t you go on a ride along for a month this summer on the Westside? It will be fun for you!