Hey, prime members, you can listen to American scandal ad-free on Amazon Music, download the app today.

A listener note, this episode contains descriptions of racial violence and other graphic material.

It may not be suitable for a younger audience.

It's early February 1992 in Chicago.

Lee Roy Martin steps into a brightly lit auditorium inside the headquarters of the Chicago Police Department.

The room is packed with reporters, and as Martin makes his way to the front,

he can feel all the journalists turning, watching him, scrutinizing his every move.

Martin approaches a podium and straightens his police uniform. He knows he has to look good. He has to appear steady and calm.

As superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Martin is about to address a series of bombshell allegations.

And if he doesn't handle this right, the entire department could come under fire.

The police department is about to address a series of bombshell allegations.

And if he doesn't handle this right, the entire department could come under fire.

Martin steps up to the podium, looks out over the crowd of journalists.

Thank you, thank you all for coming to this press conference. There's a lot to talk about, so I'm going to get right to it.

As you all know, yesterday a report came out after an internal investigation of Chicago PD.

It contains a number of very troubling allegations.

Perhaps most troubling is the claim that multiple officers led by Commander John Burge were secretly torturing black criminal suspects.

According to the report, these abuses span decades.

A reporter in the audience raises her hand, but Martin waves it off.

I'll take questions in a moment, but for now, I have to stress these allegations are as of yet unproven.

Still, we take the matter very seriously, so John Burge and other officers have been suspended without pay.

And several days the issue will face a hearing from the police board.

...