Chicago cop involved in Niles incident has history of threats, alcohol abuse

A Chicago police officer who is alleged to have beaten up a couple at a Niles bar this weekend has a history of threatening violence and abusing alcohol, court and police records show.

Chicago police officials tried to fire Officer Gerald Callahan for cursing and lunging at supervisors and refusing to take a Breathalyzer test after other officers reported smelling alcohol on his breath at work in March 2006. But last January, the Police Board voted 5-3 to suspend him for two years. Callahan returned to work in February because he had been suspended since the incident.

Callahan, 42, the son and grandson of former Chicago police officers, was cleared of another incident in 2004 when he was accused of threatening other officers in a locker room.

But he served a 30-day suspension in early 2006 for being intoxicated while off duty in January 2004. In that incident, Callahan arrested a bartender who refused to serve him more drinks. The bartender sued and settled with the city for $15,000.

On Saturday, Callahan was arrested a block from the Chambers Seafood Grille and Chop House in Niles on two misdemeanor battery counts for punching a 61-year-old Morton Grove man and a 50-year-old Niles woman. Over the weekend, Callahan said he was bitten by a police dog and mistreated by authorities, but Niles police disputed his claims.

The man, who sustained a laceration to the forehead and cheekbone, told police he was blind-sided when Callahan came over to where he was sitting and punched him in the head. He told police he did not know why Callahan hit him, said Niles Police Sgt. Tom Davis, reading from a police report. The woman told police that Callahan struck her in the arms, chest and head, knocking her to the floor from a bar stool.

A female bartender told police she served Callahan two or three beers in an hour before seeing him approach the couple and begin fighting with them. Callahan was later found lying in bushes on top of his un-holstered gun, Davis said. It is against Chicago Police Department rules for an officer to carry a gun while drinking.

Callahan could not be reached Monday for comment.

At a hearing before the Chicago Police Board in October, Callahan admitted he suffered from alcoholism since 2004 and has sought treatment several times. A doctor also testified that Callahan had bipolar depression.

Callahan agreed that he had used inappropriate language with supervisors in the 2006 incident, but he denied physically threatening them.

"I feel that I have my arms around the situation. I know alcohol to me is poison," a transcript of the hearing quoted Callahan as saying. "You know, I made mistakes in my past, which I regret, but nevertheless I think given the opportunity to go back, I can definitely be a useful member of this department."

Attorneys for the city argued that Callahan was a safety risk.

"Honestly, we are lucky that so far Mr. Callahan has directed his rage toward his fellow officers and not toward a member of the public," said Jennifer Sampson, attorney for the city. "Are we waiting for Mr. Callahan to harm somebody before we say it's wrong?"

Callahan was sued in U. S. District Court in 2004 by a bartender at the Emerald Isle in Chicago who alleged Callahan became violent after he refused to serve him after three drinks. The bartender, Joseph McAleer, and some bar patrons called the police to report Callahan was drunk and dangerous, but Callahan telephoned police as well to allege the bar served minors and allowed gambling. Callahan then arrested McAleer.

Callahan was relieved of his police duties Saturday. The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating.

Freelance reporter Carolyn Rusin contributed to this report.

arozas@tribune.com

jnapolitano@tribune.com

Related topic galleries: Drunk Driving, Health and Safety at School, Tom Davis, Chicago Police Department, Morton Grove, Prosecution, Law Enforcement

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