David Thomas, Head of panel investigating Chicago police torture claims quits under fire - The Negro family members of alleged police tortured victims weren't happy....

The executive director of the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission resigned Wednesday afternoon under pressure from the families of crime victims who were never invited to hearings held by the group looking into whether torture was used to gain confessions from people who were convicted of harming their loved ones.

The executive director, David Thomas, 69, said after a closed hearing that it was never his intention to serve on the commission past his 70th birthday in October. “I happily tender my resignation,” he said.

His resignation, which was unanimously accepted by the commission, takes effect on Sept. 30.

Commissioner Rob Warden apologized to dozens of people whose loved ones were victims of crimes for an error he characterized as inadvertent. “We are very sorry,” Warden told the audience who packed into a hearing room at the Thompson Center.

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