Ill. cop fired for harassing anti-abortion protesters
December 4, 2007

DES PLAINES, Ill. -- A suburban Chicago police officer has been fired for harassing anti-abortion protesters.

Des Plaines police officials accused Dick Lalowski of confronting a group of women outside the American Women's Medical Center last year. He allegedly threatened to arrest them even though they weren't interfering with the clinic's operations.

The 44-year-old allegedly returned in civilian clothes later and yelled insults at them.

The fire and police commissioners board voted Monday to fire Lalowski.

Police Chief James Prandini says the move sends a message that officers can't treat people the way Lalowski did.

Lalowski's attorney says his client was a good police officer. He says the board could have stopped short of a discharge.