Chicago police union head John Catanzara resigns amid hearing, eyes run for mayor
The top of Chicago’s largest police union resigned Tuesday as he confronted attainable firing over controversial social media posts, however mentioned he’s contemplating working for mayor, in keeping with stories.
John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, shared his retirement papers on Fb, which included the remark “Lastly!! Let’s go Brandon,” code for flinging the F-word at President Joe Biden.
The outspoken president, who made nationwide headlines for telling union members to defy vaccine mandates, was within the midst of a disciplinary listening to over 18 allegations of inflammatory statements and false police stories, together with a remark after the taking pictures of a Wayne State College police officer the place he mentioned “Its severely time to kill these (expletives),” the Chicago Tribune mentioned.
Catanzara, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, has clashed publicly with Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot however he mentioned he wasn’t joking about persevering with their battle in an election battle in 2023.
“They mentioned I used to be joking once I mentioned I used to be gonna be FOP President too and right here I’m,” Catanara mentioned, in keeping with ABC 7 Chicago. “I don’t know what else to say.”
Catanzara had mentioned he deliberate to resign on Monday, in keeping with the Tribune, however advised reporters he’d maintain his union job.
“There was by no means a risk below God’s inexperienced earth that I used to be ever going to provide this mayor the flexibility to utter the phrases, ‘I fired him,’” he mentioned, in keeping with the Tribune.
Rival Lightfoot criticized Catanzara’s resignation, NBC Chicago mentioned.
“Not a shock {that a} man of hate – as John Catanzara has demonstrated again and again that he’s – would run away from accountability,” Lightfoot mentioned in a press release, in keeping with NBC.
“The proof of his guilt was overwhelming as set forth within the listening to, and he clearly sought to keep away from the eventual reckoning by resigning, below investigation, after which divesting the Police Board of jurisdiction.”
