This Day in History: 2009-06-02

Chicago police officer Anthony Abbate was convicted of committing aggravated battery for punching and kicking Karolina Obrycka, a bartender half his size, after she’d refused to serve him more drinks, which his male defense attorney described as “one silly, stupid act”. Abbate received probation as was still employed by the department, two years after the assault. He could have been sentenced to up to five years, but the male judge decided community service was sufficient. Obrycka was later awarded $850,000 in damages in her lawsuit against Abbate and the police department, which included allegations of misconduct by the (male) officer on the case.