Police Review Board Rules that Chicago Cop Who Fatally Shot Unarmed Woman Be Fired

A Chicago police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman in 2012 may lose his job after the Independent Police Review Authority recommended that he be fired.

Officer Dante Servin was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of 22-year-old Rekia Boyd, who was unarmed when Servin allegedly shot into a crowd.

Servin contended during his criminal trial that he fired directly from his car at Boyd’s boyfriend, Antonio Cross, who he believed was pointing a gun at him. Police did not find a weapon, only a cell phone.

The bullets grazed Cross, but Boyd was struck in back of the head and later died. Servin alleged that Cross was charging his car and got rid of the gun before police came. Servin was acquitted last April during a bench trial, when a Cook County judge ruled that the cop had been improperly charged.

Wednesday’s ruling comes after a months-long investigation by the civilian-led board, who recommended that Servin be terminated from the force because he violated the Chicago Police Department’s use-of-deadly-force policy.

Boyd’s family says the officer intentionally and carelessly fired shots from his car. The city has settled a wrongful death suit filed by the family for $4.5 million.

Servin is the second Chicago cop that the police review board has recommended be fired this year.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has 90 days to decide if Servin should be fired.