Illinois police with credibility issues make arrests
The gist
An Illinois investigation found flagged officers arrested hundreds of people and testified in court at least 1,700 times.
Defense attorneys often weren't told about the officers' credibility problems.
How it unfolded
- 2024Douglas Dyhrkopp, state's attorney of Gallatin County in southern Illinois, began receiving complaints about a veteran officer he repeatedly called to testify.
- Nov 4, 2026The Chicago Reader and Invisible Institute published the investigation, drawing on records from over 100 prosecutor's offices and dozens of police departments.
- Nov 5, 2026Reporter Sam Stecklow said the flagged officers had arrested hundreds of people and testified at least 1,700 times, often without required disclosures to defense attorneys.
Key terms
- state's attorney
- Chief prosecutor representing a U.S. state in a local area, usually a county, handling criminal cases against defendants.
- appellate records
- Official documents and transcripts from cases heard by courts that review appeals from lower courts.
Source: Wikipedia