Cop guilty of attacking female bartender fired

A Chicago Police officer convicted of beating a woman in a bar has been fired, the Chicago Police Board announced Tuesday.

The firing of Anthony Abbate was a formality because the police department does not allow felons on the force. He repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a police board hearing.

Abbate was convicted of felony aggravated battery for beating Karolina Obrycka on Feb. 19, 2007, in a Northwest Side bar. He was sentenced to two years probation. A videotape of the beating was widely circulated on the Internet and watched around the world.

Police Supt. Jody Weis had asked the police board to fire Abbate. The nine-member civilian board makes decisions on police discipline.

Abbate's firing was praised by the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Woman.

Photo: Anthony Abbate Photo: Karolina Obrycka Photo: Anthony Abbate confronts Karolina Obrycka in the videotaped attack.