Chicago Police Officer Receives Probation for Filing False Police Report
CHICAGO — In a surprising turn of events, a Chicago police officer, Zondranika Williams, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation on Thursday for filing a false police report. This development coincided with the Illinois Supreme Court overturning Jussie Smollett’s conviction for the same offense.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has faced scrutiny for her handling of Smollett’s case, maintaining that the lenient treatment he received was standard protocol for similar cases. However, investigations have revealed that such favorable deals were not common for individuals charged with filing false reports.
Williams, a 38-year-old CPD veteran, was charged with felony false report last November after falsely claiming she was robbed of $5,000 behind her home. The incident, which allegedly took place in September 2023, was debunked by surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera.
Following her guilty plea, Williams was convicted of misdemeanor false report and sentenced to two years of probation by Judge Ursula Walowski. Despite retaining her position with CPD, Williams has been stripped of her police powers and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Her annual salary of $102,870 remains unchanged, but the logistics of her continued employment as a police officer without the ability to carry a firearm remain uncertain.
