BREAKING: Chicago Police Chief Fired
As racial justice protests continue in Chicago over the death of Laquan McDonald, the demonstrations have claimed their first bureaucratic victim: the chief of police.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported today that after meeting yesterday with mayor Rahm Emanuel at city hall, Garry McCarthy was sent an overnight notice saying he was fired.
McCarthy is a former operations chief with the NYPD, who also formerly ran the Newark police department in New Jersey. McCarthy was hired by Emanuel shortly after he came to office in 2011, and he was reportedly “shellshocked” when asked for his resignation.
McDonald’s case set of the latest set of actions for racial justice movements when dash cam footage was released showing his brutal murder at the hands of a policeman. Officer Jason Van Dyke is facing first-degree murder charges, but the protesters have continued to demand new measures for administrative accountability and other concessions from the mayor and police department.
UPDATE – 12:27 P.M. EST During a press conference, Emanuel elaborated on how he requested McCarthy’s resignation, and that he made his decision because McCarthy’s performance amid the protests and recent gang violence had become a liability for Chicago.
“Public trust and the leadership of the department has been shaken and eroded,” Emanuel said. “Now is the time for fresh eyes and new leadership to confront the challenges the department and our community and our city are facing as we go forward.”
Emanuel also announced the creation of a task force to review the department’s processes and systems with regard to the protester’s concerns.
[Image via screengrab]
— —
