Statement from Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings on Dropped Charges Against Alderwoman Chapman (Harvey, IL) – Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings issued the following statement today regarding the Cook County State’s Attorney’s decision to drop felony battery charges against Alderwoman Colby Chapman, despite a clear case of assault against a police officer:
“I am disappointed and concerned by the State’s Attorney’s decision to drop felony charges against Alderwoman Chapman without so much as a grand jury hearing, despite the clear evidence that she struck a Harvey police officer while resisting lawful orders.
Our department followed every step of the process, providing video evidence and body-worn camera footage when requested and preparing to present the case to a grand jury as recently as last week. Initially, on May 22, our detectives were instructed by the State’s Attorney’s Office to rearrest Alderwoman Chapman on her June 4 court date to upgrade her charges to felony battery. When she appeared via Zoom and could not be taken into custody, we were instructed to dismiss the misdemeanor charges and proceed with the felony case, which was scheduled for a grand jury review on July 8.
Then, without explanation, we were informed on July 2 by the court supervisor that ‘higher authorities’ decided to drop all charges, felony and misdemeanor, with no further details provided.
This abrupt reversal, after our officers spent weeks preparing for a lawful prosecution, feels like a waste of time, resources, and taxpayer dollars — a cycle of arrest, dismissal, and silence that amounts to political theater at the expense of real justice.
At the end of the day, there is never any justification for anyone, especially an elected official, to assault a police officer. We must hold people accountable when they break the law, and we cannot allow political favoritism or selective prosecution to undermine the safety of our officers or the trust of the community we serve.
Our officers put themselves on the line every day for this community. They deserve to know that their sacrifices mean something and that those who break the law, regardless of their title, will be held accountable.”
For questions regarding the decision to dismiss these charges, please contact the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Statement from Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings on Dropped Charges Against Alderwoman Chapman
