Phillip Cline Resigns Over Chicago Police Beating

Chicago Police Superintendent Philip J. Cline has decided to take an early retirement.

"Mayor Daley has given me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the best police department in the country, and I thank him for that," said Cline, 57.

What is very curious is that Cline refused to take questions from the press. He mnade his announcement and left. Cline was not suppose to retire until later this year. Mayor Daley refused to comment on if he asked Cline to take early retirement. Not a good sign.

The controversy of the videotaped-assault involving off-duty officer Anthony Abbate has shown police corruption. Victim Karolina Obrycka said another man offered her a bribe to not press charges on Abbate. The owner of Jesse's Shortstop Inn Tavern was threatened with drugs being planted on his premises and arrest. The state attorney's office is investigating the allegations. They are also stories that other police officers were in Jesse's Shortstop Inn Tavern and did nothing to stop Abbate's attack on Obrycka.

To make matters worse. Officers blocked the press from questioning Abbate during his court appearance. Cline demoted the on-duty captain.

Cline was involved with helping Abbate. He tried to get him a lesser charge.

Stung by suggestions that police helped an off-duty cop by charging him with a misdemeanor instead of a felony in the videotaped beating of a female bartender, Chicago Police Supt. Phil Cline said Friday that prosecutors saw the tape and agreed to the lesser charge.

But a spokesman for Cook County's prosecutors released a timeline that contradicted Cline, saying two assistant state's attorneys reviewed the tape three days after the Feb. 19 beating and told police "we need to investigate further before charging."

That is why Cline is taking early retirement.