>> CHICAGO TAXPAYERS HAVE PAID MORE THAN 5 MILLION DOLLARS TO DEFEND AND SETTLE LAWSUITS, ACCUSING POLICE OFFICERS OF MISCONDUCT DURING THE 2020 PROTEST TRIGGERED BY THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO AN EXCLUSIVE WTW NEWS ANALYSIS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HER FIRST OF ITS KIND ANALYSIS, HEATHER.

>> BRANDIS CHICAGO TAXPAYERS HAVE PAID MORE THAN 3.6 MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE.

32 LAWSUITS IDENTIFIED BY W T TW NEWS THAT WERE FILED BY CHICAGO SAID THEY WERE THE VICTIMS OF MISCONDUCT BY CPD OFFICERS DURING THE PROTESTS AND UNREST THAT MARK THE SUMMER OF 2020, ANOTHER 2 MILLION DOLLARS WENT PRIVATE LAWYERS TO DEFEND THE CONDUCT OF CPD OFFICERS THAT LED TO THOSE SETTLEMENTS.

ACCORDING TO RECORDS OBTAINED BY W T TW NEWS THROUGH A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST THE DECISION TO PAY PRIVATE LAWYERS TO DEFEND THE CITY CAME DESPITE 2 PROBES THAT TO THAT FOUND OFFICERS, THE PROTESTERS WITH BATONS DOUSE THEIR FACES WITH PEPPER SPRAY USED RACIAL SLURS AND MOCKED THE PUSH FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND POLICE REFORM.

IN MANY CASES THAT CONDUCT VIOLATED PROTESTERS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND INVOLVED UNJUSTIFIED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE.

INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT TOLL SURE TO GROW WITH AT LEAST 13 CASES STILL PENDING AGAINST THE CITY ATTORNEYS SHEILA BEDI WHO REPRESENTS A NUMBER OF POINT US IN THOSE CASES SAID THE DECISION TO FIGHT THESE LAWSUITS IS BAFFLING.

>> IT'S AN YOU KNOW, I I CAN'T GIVE YOU A LEGAL RATIONALE FOR IT OR EVEN A FINANCIAL RATIONALE.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAINLY NO BENEFIT TO TAXPAYERS TO DRAGGING OUT LITIGATION EVEN EVEN FURTHER THE HARM THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCED ON THE STREETS OR IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, WASN'T JUST ABOUT INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS MAKING BAD DECISIONS BUT WAS ABOUT THE SYSTEMIC FAILURES OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>> PRIVATE ATTORNEYS CAN CAUSE CHICAGO TAXPAYERS FOR TO FIND 4 TO 5 TIMES MORE THAN LAWYERS WHO WORK FOR THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF LAW.

ACCORDING TO ESTIMATES, OFFERED DURING CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARINGS, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE LAW DEPARTMENT DECLINED TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE DECIDER HIRED WHAT WHY THEY DECIDED TO HIRE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS CITING ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

THE CITY'S TOP LAWYER CORPORATION COUNSEL MARY RICHARDSON LOWRY DECLINED AN INTERVIEW REQUEST FROM W T TW NEWS.

BUT A SPOKESPERSON SENT A STUNT STATEMENT SAYING THE CITY'S LAW DEPARTMENT INTERNALLY EVALUATES EACH CASE FOR POTENTIAL RISK AND LIABILITY AND TAKES APPROPRIATE STEPS TO MINIMIZE FINANCIAL EXPOSURE TO THE CITY.

IN SOME CASES, WE CONCLUDE THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO USE INTERNAL LAWYERS.

AND IN OTHER CASES, WE RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

AMONG THE FEDERAL LAWSUITS STILL PENDING AGAINST THE CITY.

NEARLY 4 YEARS LATER IS THE ONE FILED BY MIRACLE BOYD WHILE PROTESTING THE PRESENCE OF A STATUE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN GRANT PARK.

BOYD WAS FILMING AN ARREST WHEN AN OFFICER KNOCKED PHONE OUT OF HER HAND, SENDING INTERFACE AND KNOCKING OUT HER FRONT TOOTH AND PART OF ANOTHER THE PICTURES OF THE BLOODIED BOYD WENT VIRAL ADDING TO THE OUTRAGE OVER THE WAY CPD OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE PROTESTS, AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY FOUND THAT THE OFFICER USED EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST THE TEEN AND THEN LIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

HE RESIGNED SOON AFTER INVESTIGATORS ASKED THE CITY'S TOP COP TO FIRE FOR BOYD.

WHAT HAPPENED NEARLY 4 YEARS AGO WAS A DEFINING MOMENT OF HER LIFE.

>> SO I THINK IT MESSED MISS LEE FOR LONG TIME.

SO THE ACT TO WATCH THE VIDEO AND JUSTICE.

LIKE BRUSH IT OFF MY SHOULDER AS IF LIKE I JUST HAVE TO GET OVER IT BECAUSE THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THIS NO CPD, SOMETIMES.

THEY ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

THIS IS WHAT WE SEE WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.

SO WASN'T A SHOP.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE AGENCY CHARGED WITH INVESTIGATING POLICE MISCONDUCT FOUND THAT THE OFFICER WHO STRUCK BOYD ACTED INAPPROPRIATELY.

THE CITY HAS PAID MORE THAN 42,000 $500 IN LEGAL FEES TO 2 LAW FIRMS TO DEFEND THE LAWSUIT FILED BY BOYD.

ACCORDING TO RECORDS OBTAINED BY W T TW NEWS BRANDIS THE CITY'S ABILITY TO PROTECT PRO TO POLICE.

LARGE-SCALE PROTEST IS FACING RENEWED SCRUTINY AS EVERYONE PREPARES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND LAWYERS AND POLICE REFORM ADVOCATES IS THE CITY'S INABILITY OR RELUCTANCE TO SETTLE THESE LAWSUITS AND LEARN THE LESSONS OF SOME OF THE SUMMER OF 2020 RAISES REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE PREPARED FOR THE SUMMER OF 2020 FOR SURE IS AN INTERESTING APPROACH.

THEY'RE TAKING AHEAD.

A SHARON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS, BRANDIS.