Chicago Police Beating Still Tarnishing Department's Image

In this file photo, Chicago Police officer Anthony Abbate leaves Cook County criminal court after a...

In this file photo, Chicago Police officer Anthony Abbate leaves Cook County criminal court after a hearing in Chicago. Abbate faces more than a dozen felony charges, including aggravated battery and official misconduct, in the videotaped beating of Chicago bartender Karolina Obrycka, after she allegedly after she refused to continue to serve alcohol to the 12-year police veteran.

(Brian Kersey/AP Photo)

More than a year after he last wore a badge and months after his boss said he wanted him fired, a policeman videotaped beating a female bartender remains the best-known officer in the Chicago Police Department.

Footage of the 250-pound officer punching, kicking and throwing the 115-pound bartender has aired repeatedly after it surfaced the next month.

It would be embarrassing for any police department, but for Chicago — which already withstood the humiliation once — it means much more. Especially now.

As bright as the media spotlight has shone on the department in the past, it will only get brighter because Chicago is the hometown of the next president of the United States and the city is vying for the 2016 Olympics.

It's unclear whether Anthony Abbate, the officer charged in the beating, will stand trial — it was supposed to begin Tuesday but has been delayed — or if the case will end with a plea bargain. A judge's gag order has prevented anyone from talking publicly about the case.

Related

Does Chicago Need Military to Fight Crime?

WATCH: Cop Beats Up Bartender

Outrage Over 8-Yr-Old Girl Stabbing

"I have to think it is important to get past (the case) not only from a PR standpoint, but Abbate has for the last two years defined what the department is," said Daniel P. Smith, author of "On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department."

"So many officers do their job the right way but Abbate has defined who they are (and) I know for a fact many of them want it all erased."

Chicago officials already have set about to change the police department's image, starting 11 months ago, when they hired a new police superintendent, Jodi Weis, the former head of the FBI's Philadelphia office.

Police officers know that what they do is being watched like never before — starting on election night, when a quarter million people descended on Grant Park to be part of President-elect Barack Obama's historic victory.

"I talked to two sergeants who had their teams down there and one told his guys the eyes of the whole world are on (the park)," said Sgt. John Pallohusky, president of the police sergeants union.