Four Calumet County Police Officers Suspended in Firearm Mishandling Investigation – Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Police Department has relieved four officers of their police duties amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of police mishandling of confiscated weapons.

A source familiar with the investigation said the officers involved in the alleged mishandling of the seized firearms worked out of Calumet County on the Far South Side.

The Chicago Police Department said Thursday that the officers were hired on March 15. They were assigned to the alternate response section, which handles non-emergency calls.

“There is an open investigation into this case. We will not comment further to protect the integrity of this investigation,” the department said in a statement.

The Office of Civil Police Accountability is investigating allegations of firearms mishandling, COPA spokesman Ephraim Idi said Thursday.

“COPA is actively investigating the actions of the officers involved and has recommended that the Chicago Police Department relieve the officers of their police powers,” Eady said in a statement.

The police department and COPA declined to release additional details about the investigation.

jsheridan@chicagotribune.com