Full Breakdown
Chicago Officer Suspended After Unlawful Stop and Insult
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
In early December 2024, Chicago police officer Oscar Furlan and two colleagues in an unmarked vehicle stopped a male student and a female companion walking home from the bus in the Jackson Park neighborhood. The officers claimed the stop was justified because the area was high-crime and the male had his hands in his pockets. Body-camera footage reviewed by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) showed the student said his hands were in his pockets because he was cold, with temperatures in the 30s. No contraband or weapons were found, and the pair were released. As they walked away, Officer Furlan shouted an insult, saying they were stopped because they were “ugly as f---.”
COPA Findings and Recommendations
COPA concluded the stop and pat-down were unlawful and that the officers failed to document the encounter properly. The watchdog determined the male’s behavior did not suggest any danger. COPA recommended a ten-day suspension for Officer Furlan and mandated retraining on professionalism, investigatory stops, protective pat-downs, and reporting requirements.
Department Response and Disciplinary Action
The Chicago Police Department, in a letter to COPA, imposed a five-day suspension on Officer Furlan, a three-day suspension on one of the other officers, and a reprimand for the third. The department also confirmed that all three officers will undergo the training outlined in COPA’s recommendation. The department did not provide additional comment, and Officer Furlan did not respond to requests for comment.
Verbatim Quote
- “We stopped you because you are ugly as f---,” — Oscar Furlan — Oscar Furlan, Chicago police officer
Implications
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about discretionary stops and officer conduct in Chicago. COPA’s findings reinforce the agency’s policy prohibiting disrespectful language toward the public, and the department’s disciplinary measures signal an effort to address violations, though the reduced suspension length relative to the watchdog’s recommendation may prompt further scrutiny from community advocates.