Fire 2 Joliet Cops For Causing Eric Lurry's Death: Petition

JOLIET, IL — A social justice petition drive launched Friday, July 3 on the website Change.Org has already collected more than 4,200 signatures from people calling for the termination of Joliet Police Sgt. Doug May and rookie officer Andrew McCue for their roles in the death of a Joliet Black man, Eric Lurry.

Lurry was pronounced dead during the early morning hours of Jan. 29. He had been arrested by Joliet police officers on minor criminal offenses during the afternoon of Jan. 28. After a barrage of news media attention on the case last week, the Will County Coroner's Office of Patrick O'Neil and Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow both issued statements on Thursday, July 2 indicating that Lurry died from ingesting a lethal amount of drugs into his system and that the Joliet officers did not cause his death.

"JPD withheld video evidence for 5 months of what happened that night," the online petition states. "Officers Doug May and ... McCue slapped Eric, held his nose shut while shoving a baton in his mouth and were seen choking him ... There needs to be light shed on police brutality and the over abuse of power of police."

The online petition at Change.org is called, "Have the officers charged in the death of Eric Lurry."

Here's a sampling of comments from people who have signed the petition in hopes of getting Sgt. May and Officer McCue off the Joliet police force:

• "I want the officers responsible for Eric’s death to be arrested & tried for MURDER."
• "I’m signing because this is not right and those police officers cannot get away with committing murder."
• "Justice should be a human right for all regardless of skin color."
• "At this point we are sick of seeing our people getting kill like they’re animals and they deserve justice too."
• "He did not deserve that ! He is just as human as you are! He deserves so much more. I demand this case to be opened back up ! This was cruel, brutal, and sickening to watch and the people who did this to this innocent man needs to suffer the consequences and rot in prison!"
• "I recently moved here and want to help better this city. I want this police department completely reformed. RESTART. NO. MORE."
• "Black lives matter and the injustice needs to end."
• "I think the cops should be arrested for the disgusting things they did to this man."

For Joliet Patch's most recent coverage of the Eric Lurry in-custody Joliet police death:

Whistleblower Brave Hero For Exposing Eric Lurry's Death: BPOA

Eric Lurry's Death: Glasgow Clears Joliet Police Of Crimes

Joliet Police Sergeant Reveals He Blew Whistle On Eric Lurry Video

Coroner Rules Lurry's Death Accidental Drug Overdose

'I Witnessed The Homicide Of Eric Lurry': Lawyer Tells NBC-Chicago

Mayor, 3 Councilmen Get Kwame Raoul Involved In Eric Lurry's Death