An internal source within the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has alleged that some officers are arresting Black individuals who are licensed gun owners despite them possessing valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) cards and concealed carry licenses (CCL). This is reportedly being done for personal and professional gain, such as boosting arrest statistics to secure promotions and higher pay. CBS Chicago reported.
This alarming claim comes nearly two months after CBS News Chicago revealed multiple cases where CPD officers stopped Black gun owners for minor traffic violations and subsequently charged them with felonies, including unlawful gun possession, even when their firearm licenses were legal and current.
Race and Financial Motivation Alleged
The protected source, a decorated police veteran, suggested that race plays a role in these arrests. The source claimed officers might perceive North Side residents as more affluent and likely to fight back legally, while Black individuals on the South Side might be seen as easier targets.
According to the source, “Getting weapons off the street is one of the number one things politicians want you to do… If you have really, really high numbers in terms of firearms recovered, then yeah, you will get the attention of supervisors. If you get promotions, you’re going to get more money. That’s just how it goes.”
State Lawmaker’s Arrest Points to Problem
State Representative Curtis Tarver (25th District) was one of the individuals wrongly arrested. About six years ago, Tarver was pulled over on the South Side for a broken taillight. He immediately disclosed his CCL and FOID card.
Police body camera video confirmed his license was valid, yet the officer stated the system (LEADS) showed it as revoked. Despite Tarver’s attempts to explain his recent renewal, he was handcuffed and arrested.
Tarver avoided the felony charge but was charged with a misdemeanor, and his mugshot remains in the system even after the case was dismissed. Tarver stressed that these actions “adversely affect you.”
Law Experts and Victims Speak Out
Police law expert David Harris confirmed that the state statute is clear: presenting a valid CCL to the officer satisfies the disclosure requirement, regardless of system errors. Harris stated, “You shouldn’t be arresting people who are obeying the law, period, full stop.”
CBS News Chicago used a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain a CPD database of 52,000 guns recovered since 2019. The database, which records guns deemed illegal by police, included the legally owned firearms of Rep. Tarver, Louis McWilliams, and Lucy Washington, all of whom had valid licenses and had their cases dismissed.
Brandon Brown, attorney for Washington, who has sued police, said, “I don’t have any problem with guns being taken off the streets, so long as we’re talking about illegal guns… But when we’re talking about law-abiding citizens… I think our community has a problem with law-abiding citizens being incarcerated…”
CPD Police Supt. Larry Snelling repeatedly declined to comment on the findings or address why legal guns are counted in the database of illegal firearms.
Watch the News video below.
