Disciplinary action is recommended for a south suburban police officer accused of using excessive force on a teenager. Calumet City's police chief wants the police board to take action against Officer Louis Picicco. The officer is accused of beating a 15-year-old Donald Pennington, Junior, who was under arrest for jaywalking. Officials in Calumet City originally promised the investigation would be wrapped-up in a month or two, but it took five months. Donald Pennington, Junior, 15, looked beaten, bruised, and bloodied after he spent some time in an interrogation room at the Calumet City Police station. "Put my head down and shook it. He came in and just started hitting me, he didn't stop," said Donald Pennington, Jr. in August. The suburb's police chief is now taking action against Officer Louis Picicco, filing "administrative" charges of excessive force and conduct unbecoming an officer. It'll be up to the city's police and fire board to decide if Picicco is fired. What caused all this? That's my question. What caused all of this, the beating? I still don't understand," said Vickie Pennington, victim's mother. Donald Pennington and a group of friends were walking home from Thornton Fractional North High School in August. Police accused the 15-year-old of jay-walking. Once at the station, Pennington admits to tapping his fingers on the interrogation room wall, but that's it. Police claim he threw furniture at an officer. Despite today's ruling, the teenager remains charged with aggravated battery of an officer while Officer Pennington is not charged with criminal conduct. [more]
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