Chicago Police Officer Marco Proano Sentenced To 5 Years for Violating Civil Rights

In August, Chicago police officer Marco Proano was found guilty on two felony federal charges of violating victim’s civil rights.  I reported the trial at this link.

Proano’s sentencing took place on November 20, 2017.  He was looking at 10 years.  Prosecutors asked the judge for 8 years.  On Monday, federal district court Judge Feinerman sentenced the 42-year old Proano to 5 years in prison for his use of unreasonable force in an on-duty shooting that wounded two teenagers four years ago.

Officer Marco Proano fired 16 shots in nine seconds at a stolen Toyota Avalon full of teenagers in Chicago on  December 2013. The shooting was caught on camera, and jurors took less than four hours to find him guilty in August of two civil rights violations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgia Alexakis argued that Proano “could have killed each and every one of those passengers.”

At sentencing, prosecutors told the judge that Proano has shown no remorse for what he did.  Proano addressed the court before sentencing and reiterated that his actions were the reason “all those teenagers went home that night.”

The Chicago Police Department has sought to fire Proano. His lawyer also represents Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer facing murder charges in state court after fatally shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Proano can be seen in dashcam video stepping forward, holding his gun sideways. Seconds later, he steps backward as the car reverses into view. Proano then lifts his gun again with both hands, upright, and a flash can be seen as he appears to open fire.  That video however, was not made available until the Chicago Reader requested it from a State Court.