Chicago Officer Who Pummelled Female Bartender Fired

The Chicago Police Board has fired Anthony Abbate , whose videotaped beat-down of a female bartender while he was off duty landed on YouTube and embarrassed Chicago police, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The alcohol-fueled Abbate went behind a bar counter and attacked Karolina Obrycka, who had tried to cut him.

Abbate was convicted of felony aggravated battery for the February 2007 attack on Obrycka, but he was spared prison and sentenced to two years' probation. A civil lawsuit is still pending against Abbate, who had been suspended without pay since April 2007.

Police Superintendent Jody Weis, who was hired in the wake of the scandal to restore public confidence, had recommended that Abbate be fired.

In a June "Editor's Notes" blog post, POLICE Editor David Griffith said the incident had dishonored law enforcement .

Read the full story.