Claims of police coverup probed

The federal government is investigating claims that Chicago police tortured numerous murder suspects and lied about it under oath, U.S. Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald said.

Chicago police have been haunted for decades by allegations that detectives at a South Side violent crimes unit dunked suspects in water, beat them and subjected them to electric shocks to wring out confessions.

Fitzgerald said at a news conference that his investigation focused on possible false statements and obstruction of justice connected to pending civil lawsuits over torture allegations.