Dan Hinkel

Dan Hinkel is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice. Before joining the BGA, he spent 11 years with the Chicago Tribune, where he largely focused on investigative coverage of police, prosecutors and the courts. He has also freelanced for outlets including the New York Times. A native of Wisconsin, he lives in Chicago.

Police and Prosecutors

Robert Smith on March 14, 2022 sitting in a wheelchair outside his Roseland home.

Former Chicago police superintendent accused of lying in murder case

By Dan Hinkel (BGA) and Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | March 22, 2022

A man exonerated after 33 years in prison for double murder says records prove then-Lt. Philip Cline lied to jurors during his trial about taking his confession in 1987. He is suing the city.