Controversial Chicago Officer Involved in Fatal Shootings Seeks Judgeship Amid $2M Settlements

Sgt. John Poulos, a Chicago police officer involved in two contentious fatal shootings that resulted in nearly $2 million in legal settlements, has thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate for judge in Cook County, raising eyebrows and eliciting strong reactions from the community.

Poulos, accused of shooting and killing black men in 2013 and 2016, is vying for a judgeship in a district on Chicago’s North Side, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by city investigators in both shootings, the city paid out substantial settlements, with $950,000 in one lawsuit and over $1 million in another.

The families of the two men killed by Poulos expressed shock and dismay at his candidacy. Kenyatta Hill, sister of Rickey Rozelle, shot in 2013, described the situation as “like a slap in the face.” Hill doubts Poulos can rule without bias if elected, considering him a murderer unfit for a judicial role.

The Independent Police Review Authority, investigating the 2013 shooting of Rozelle, found Poulos’s use of force aligned with police department policy. However, the City Council approved a $950,000 settlement in 2018.

Karonisha Ramsey, mother of Kajuan Raye killed by Poulos in 2016, referred to the officer as a killer and questioned his candidacy. Despite Poulos being cleared in Raye’s killing, a jury awarded Ramsey over $1 million in March 2020, including funeral costs.

Michael Oppenheimer, Ramsey’s lawyer, criticized Poulos’s candidacy as “offensive,” asserting that Cook County residents should not be served by someone who betrayed their trust by wrongfully killing another human being.

Poulos, one of four candidates in the March 19th Democratic primary, has not responded to requests for comment. The controversy surrounding his bid for a judgeship shines a spotlight on issues of police accountability, judicial suitability, and the deep impact of fatal encounters on affected families.