Chicago City Wire

Jean Cabel, the niece of a murdered Chicago Police sergeant, is blasting Gov. J.B. Pritzker for the parole of one of her uncle's killers.

In a political ad, Cabel says, "My uncle was a sergeant in the Chicago Police Department. He was with a patrol officer Anthony Rizzato, and on the evening of July 17, 1970, they were assassinated." Then a voice in the ad says, "For decades, Jean had the support of governors of both parties to keep her uncle's killer behind bars, until JB Pritzker." Then Jean says, "We did not get any letters whatsoever from Governor Pritzker about opposing parole." 

"My message to the Governor would be shame on you," Cabel added. 

Johnny Veal and George Knight were convicted of killing Sgt. James Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato in 1970 as they walked through the Cabrini Green Housing project. Though both men were convicted and sentenced to 100-199 years, Veal was paroled last year, but Knight was not. 

In a separate case, Joseph Hurst, who was convicted of killing Officer Herman Stallworth and wounding his partner after being pulled over in 1967, was also paroled.

"Clearly, the intent of the court was for these murderers to pay for the lives they stole with life in prison," former Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline said on behalf of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, NBC Chicago reported. "More importantly, allowing these men to be free sends a troubling message to the families of these officers that their sacrifice and the lives of their loved ones are somehow insignificant." 

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx argued against Veal's parole, saying his crime was a "cold-blooded execution." She also said that he bragged about it. Veal told the Parole Board that he was innocent, despite the convincing evidence against him. At one time Foxx opposed the parole of Hurst, but she later reversed herself. Hurst was originally sentenced to death, but his sentence was amended to 100-300 years, due the to Supreme Court's pause on capital punishment in 1972.

Earlier this year, several members of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation went to Springfield to oppose the parole of Knight for the murders of Severin and Rizzato. The Prisoner Review Board voted 6-2 to deny parole.

In 2020, the Chicago Police Department tweeted in remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the murders and urged citizens to never forget their sacrifices: "This year will mark the 50th anniversary of #ChicagoPolice Sgt. James Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato’s line of duty deaths. As National Police Week comes to a close, we take a moment to remember them and all those who gave their lives to protect this city."

In less than two months the no-cash-bail provision of the SAFE-T Act, signed by Pritzker, will take effect and opponents say the provision will enable the release of those who have been charged with crimes like robbery, abduction, arson, second-degree murder, intimidation, aggravated battery, aggravated DUI, aggravated flight, drug-related homicide, and threatening a public officer. 

Pritzker has denied these allegations. "This law does not mandate the release of defendants or create 'non-detainable offenses,'” he posted on Facebook. "Defendants are eligible for pre-trial release based on their risk, not their bank accounts."

Nearly all of the state's attorneys, 100 of the102, agreed that the cash bail provision should be changed or repealed. Only Eric Rinehart from Lake County and Kim Foxx from Cook County support it.