Ex-CPD detective denies coercing Guantanamo suspects

Retired investigator Richard Zuley testifies in post-conviction case, denies beating and coercing witnesses and suspects

Feb. 24, 2026 at 2:39pm

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Former Chicago police Detective Richard Zuley, who spent time on a special assignment at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, took the witness stand and denied beating and coercing witnesses and suspects, saying he favors a more gentle approach to interrogation. Zuley's account linked the troubled U.S. detention center in Cuba with the shooting death of a child in Cabrini Green in 1992, as the retired detective was called to testify in a post-conviction case.

Why it matters

The unusual post-conviction case has brought renewed attention to the controversial interrogation tactics used at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, as well as allegations of misconduct by former Chicago police detectives. The case highlights ongoing debates around criminal justice reform, police accountability, and the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo.

The details

Zuley spent more than three hours testifying at the Leighton Criminal Court Building after he was called to the stand by Cook County prosecutors fighting off a petition that asks a judge to vacate a murder conviction. He denied beating and coercing witnesses and suspects, even as defense attorneys grilled him about a history of internal complaints and lawsuits. Zuley's testimony followed that of former Guantanamo detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who in November said a team led by Zuley tortured him in the early 2000s until he falsely confessed to planning to attack the CN Tower in Canada.

  • Zuley spent more than three hours testifying at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on February 19, 2026.
  • Former Guantanamo detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi testified in November, saying a team led by Zuley tortured him in the early 2000s.

The players

Richard Zuley

A former Chicago police detective who spent time on a special assignment at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

Mohamedou Ould Slahi

A former Guantanamo detainee who testified that a team led by Zuley tortured him in the early 2000s until he falsely confessed to planning to attack the CN Tower in Canada.

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What they’re saying

“'Rapport works. Interrogation doesn't work.'”

— Richard Zuley, Retired Chicago police detective

“'We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.'”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing debates around criminal justice reform, police accountability, and the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo, as well as the lingering impacts of controversial interrogation tactics used by some law enforcement officials.