Chicago cop charged with harrassing a witness who was scheduled to testify against him

Marco Torres, a 40-year-old Chicago police officer, is facing criminal charges for allegedly threatening another officer who was set to testify against him in a legal proceeding. The charges against Torres include one count of harassing a witness in connection with threats he made to a 41-year-old detective last May.

According to a report by the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs, Torres called the detective on May 20, 2024, in an attempt to dissuade her from testifying in a pending assault case. He reportedly pleaded, “It’s me, Marco. I’ve been crying. Please do not testify against me.” Torres also sent a text message saying, “This is my life please don’t testify. I always cover my tracks. I would hope that you keep this between us. Or my commander will get you fired.”

In response to these allegations, Judge James Costello placed Torres on a GPS monitor and ordered him to surrender his firearms and firearms licenses while the case is pending. If Torres is unable to possess firearms, he may not be able to continue working as a Chicago police officer.

This is not the first time Torres has faced legal trouble. Last November, he was given 12 months of court supervision after being found guilty of misdemeanor assault. The case involved allegations that he had threatened to kill another detective in his unit. Torres is currently appealing the sentence, as it requires him to surrender his firearms, which could disqualify him from working as a police officer. He has requested to only be prohibited from possessing firearms while off-duty.

In response to these incidents, the Chicago Police Department stripped Torres of his police powers last year and is conducting an internal investigation into the matter.

As this case unfolds, the community is left wondering about the integrity and accountability of those tasked with upholding the law. It serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies to maintain public trust and confidence in the justice system.