Chicago is…..
My kinda town!
….not to mention corrupt!
CHICAGO – Seven officers have been suspended for their actions the night the city’s top cop was found passed out behind the wheel after drinking, according to a report issued Friday by the Chicago’s Office of the Inspector General.
The officers failed to conduct a competent investigation, recorded body-worn camera footage in violation of policy, made false statements, and more. The investigation also revealed gaps in officer training and potential shortcomings in partner assignments, according to the report.
A year ago Friday, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, 59, was found asleep behind the wheel of his SUV at a stop sign. He had consumed “several large servings of rum . . the equivalent of 10 alcoholic beverages,” according to the report. Officers responding to the scene allowed Johnson to drive home.
Johnson called for an investigation of his own actions, saying he fell asleep because of a change in his blood pressure medication. Soon after, Mayor Lori Lightfoot hosted what she later called a “celebratory press conference to announce his retirement.” But a month before his expected retirement, Lightfoot fired Johnson following revelations from the Inspector General’s Office.
None of the officers currently face criminal charges.
The Office of the Inspector General of the City of Chicago is an independent office intended to root out corruption, waste, and mismanagement and is a “watchdog for the taxpayers of the City,” according to the office. It has jurisdiction to conduct investigations and audits over most aspects of city government. Joseph Ferguson currently serves as inspector general.
Seven officers involved that night “failed to effectively carry out their duties in the handling and aftermath” of the incident, according to the office, which recommended suspending six of the officers and discharging one.
Two responding probationary officers “failed to gather evidence necessary” to determine if Johnson could drive home, such as where he was coming from or whether he had been drinking, according to the report.
7 Chicago Cops Suspended for Roles in Chief’s Traffic Stop
Calamity Jane