Russ Ewing, a TV news reporter, shares stories of standing beside over 100 people as they surrendered to the police, including negotiating with a mental patient holding hostages. He discusses the risks he faced and the importance of helping people surrender safely.
Russ Ewing, a black television reporter in Chicago during the 1970s and 80s, played a unique role in facilitating the safe surrender of over a hundred accused criminals, providing them with protection from police violence.
Russ Ewing's dedication to exposing injustice went beyond his role as a reporter. He used his airplane to retrieve fugitives who were ready to surrender, ensuring their safety and humanizing those accused of crimes.
Deep dives
Exposing Police Brutality and Torture
During the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, Detective Commander John Burge and a group of rogue detectives in Chicago were accused of torturing over a hundred suspects, mainly black men, into confessing to crimes. These abuses included attaching electrodes to genitals and other violent methods. Despite the documented evidence, Burge was only convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury, as the statute of limitations for torture had expired. The city of Chicago paid millions in reparations to the victims, highlighting the extent of police abuse.
The Safe Surrenders of Russ Ewing
Russ Ewing, a black television reporter in Chicago during the 1970s and 80s, played a unique role in facilitating the safe surrender of over a hundred accused criminals. These suspects, many of whom were afraid of being beaten or tortured by the police, turned to Ewing for protection. Ewing's presence ensured that they would not face violence during their surrender, and he often accompanied them to police stations, holding their arms in solidarity. His remarkable ability to build trust and create a human connection with suspects made him a trusted figure in the community.
The Legacy of Russ Ewing
Russ Ewing's dedication to exposing injustice went beyond his role as a reporter. He used his airplane to retrieve fugitives who were ready to surrender, guaranteeing their safety and providing them with a dignified means to face the consequences of their actions. Ewing believed in the value of every individual and sought to humanize those accused of crimes, ensuring they received fair treatment from the criminal justice system. His relentless pursuit of transparency and accountability in law enforcement made a significant impact in Chicago during a time of rampant police misconduct.
“The police had surrounded the house. They had been there for quite a while. They didn’t want to try to rush the house because they thought he might kill one of the innocent people. But after waiting for a long time, I asked the police: ‘Let me see if I can talk to the guy.’”
For decades, TV news reporter Russ Ewing stood beside more than 100 people — at their request — as they surrendered to the police.
Thanks to CBC Licensing.
This episode was originally released in 2020.
Criminal is on tour this month! We’re telling brand new stories, live on stage. You can even get meet and greet tickets to come and say hi before the show. Tickets are on sale now at thisiscriminal.com/live. We can’t wait to see you there!
Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all of our shows, members-only merch, and more. Learn more and sign up here.