Former Chicago Cop Pleads Guilty to Sexual Misconduct

Eric Tabb receives probation after allegations from female colleagues at the police academy and precinct.

CHICAGO – Eric Tabb, a former Chicago police officer, admitted guilt on Tuesday to felony charges related to two separate incidents of sexual misconduct. The victims were female colleagues, one encountered at the police training academy and the other at a police precinct.

The case against tabb, 35, gained prominence after being highlighted in an investigation that revealed a pattern of insufficient investigations into sexual misconduct allegations against Chicago police officers. Tabb pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, classified as a Class 3 felony. He received a sentence of 30 months of probation and is required to participate in a sex offender program as part of the plea agreement, which also involved reduced charges.

Tabb, who was arrested in December 2023 and subsequently terminated from the police force, is among 14 officers accused of sexual assault in the past decade who had previously faced similar accusations. Records indicate that five out of 17 women in his academy class reported instances of inappropriate sexual contact involving Tabb.

Details of the Incidents

During a hearing before Cook County judge James B. Novy, both victims, who are also police officers, delivered impact statements. one officer stated, “The women I speak for today, including myself, were women that trusted Eric Tabb, spending eight months with him forming that trust in a police academy. As of today, there is hope that all us women affected can put this in the past.”

judge novy explained his decision to accept the plea deal, emphasizing the importance of allowing the women to move forward.”The onyl reason I went along with this deal is because of the victims,” Novy stated,warning Tabb of potential imprisonment if he violates the terms of his probation. “Everyone wants closure. They want to put this behind them.I’m going to keep a close eye on this.”

The charges stemmed from two specific incidents. In August 2023, at a birthday party in Wrigleyville, Tabb allegedly approached a female recruit on the dance floor, made sexually suggestive remarks, and engaged in unwanted physical contact. The second incident occurred in December 2023 at a police precinct,where Tabb allegedly touched a probationary officer’s crotch multiple times.

Uncharged Allegations and Previous Complaints

Prosecutors had previously requested the inclusion of two additional, uncharged incidents to illustrate a pattern of behavior by Tabb.These incidents involved allegations of Tabb grabbing a female recruit’s crotch and touching another recruit’s buttocks at a “star party,” an unofficial celebration for graduating recruits.

Alexus Byrd-Maxey was the first recruit to report tabb, alleging that he touched her inappropriately at the academy in March 2023. Though, her accusation was not included in the prosecution’s case. Byrd-maxey reported that Tabb made unwanted physical contact while she was leaning over a classmate’s computer. After she reported the incident,she was later fired.

Tabb and his attorney, Dan Herbert, declined to comment.Byrd-Maxey, who was unable to attend the hearing, expressed her disappointment with the plea agreement, stating, “He’s been given grace, time and time again.They let him be a free man,” she said. “I feel like it’s still not being taken seriously, again.”