Futterman has been at the center of the Laquan McDonald case for a year, since his legal clinic received a tip about a dashcam video of Officer Jason Van Dyke pumping 16 bullets into McDonald. With the city in turmoil and the mayor hounded by protesters everywhere he goes, Futterman believes this moment might lead to real reform.

“I’m hopeful because the vast majority of officers aren’t benefiting from this,” he says. “It’s hurting them. … This moment may give them an opportunity to not just do the right thing, but what’s in their own best interest.”

How so?

“If you look at the data,” he says, “the good news is the vast majority of Chicago Police officers on the force are not out there busting heads; 80 percent of officers have less than four complaints [of misconduct] in their career. Most have none. A small percentage are responsible for the lion’s share of complaints, and that small percentage are allowed to run roughshod.”

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