Chicago Cop Accused of Allegedly Firing Gun While Drunk Acquitted

CHICAGO, IL -- A veteran Chicago police officer was acquitted of charges stemming from an off-duty drunken shooting incident just blocks away from the 22nd District Morgan Park station that happened in 2014.

John Gorman, 54, was accused at shooting at a truck after he’d been drinking the afternoon of Nov. 23, 2014 in Chicago’s Mt. Greenwood neighborhood. The alleged targets, an off-duty Merrionette Park police officer and his friend, both contended they followed Gorman after they saw him veering in and out of traffic and almost hitting a flower vendor.

As the men pursued Gorman in an “oversized pickup,” Gorman got out of his Buick at a red light on 111th Street a few blocks away from the Morgan Park police station and fired five shots at the truck. The occupants of the truck filed a police report. Gorman was initially charged with a misdemeanor DUI, but felony charges were added in 2015.

Gorman testified in court that he thought the off-duty suburban cop and his friend were carjackersso he shot at them. He claimed he didn’t initially report the shooting because he had been drinking that afternoon.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Cook County Judge James Linn said officers shouldn’t have to face a higher burden to prove their innocence because of “societal fears” of police being properly punished for wrongdoing, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"At no time in any court of law should police officers be treated better than anyone else. That being said, they shouldn't be treated worse," the judge said.

Judge Linn also said that Gorman “wasn’t looking for trouble” but “just going home.” He acknowledged that the Chicago police officer “appeared to have felt threatened,” the Tribune said.

The state legislature intended for the aggravated discharge of a beforehand, the judge added.

In a statement to the Tribune, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said it “respectfully” disagreed with the judge’s decision.

Gorman’s attorney Michael Clancy continue to maintain that his client acted in self defense.

The bench trial took three days over the course of several weeks at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.