Authorities released hundreds of videos Friday that offer startling glimpses into violent encounters involving Chicago police, including the fatal shooting of a robbery suspect speeding toward them in a van and an incident when an officer slammed his night stick against a man's head at a party.

The more than 300 video clips — along with audio recordings and police reports — are from 101 incidents investigated by the Independent Police Review Authority. The agency examines misconduct cases and any instance — justified or not — of an officer firing a gun in a manner that could injure someone.

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Craig Futterman, a University of Chicago law school professor who played a key role in forcing the city to release the McDonald video, said it's too early to know whether the latest release of material is a sign of progress.

"Decades of secrecy and institutional denial should give us reason for skepticism about this, but I look forward to seeing whether this will really be a significant step in the direction of transparency," Futterman said. "This really has the potential to mark a new day in Chicago."

UPDATE: From the Chicago Tribune:

The move marks the official rollout of a new policy to release video of shootings by police within 60 days of most incidents — an unprecedented shift toward transparency that even longtime critics of the secrecy of the Police Department have praised as an important step.

"I think this is a big thing," said Craig Futterman, a University of Chicago law professor who has studied police misconduct. "We are experiencing a sea change, and lots of credit should go around for that." Read more.

Read more at Associated Press