CHICAGO – The top of the Chicago Police Division and the U.S. Lawyer for the Northern District of Illinois introduced their resignations Wednesday, hours after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot misplaced her bid for reelection.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown is resigning efficient March 16, Lightfoot mentioned in a press release.
John Lausch, Jr., head of the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace in Chicago, is resigning efficient March 11, his workplace mentioned in a press release.
Information of the departures comes after Lightfoot didn’t win sufficient votes in Tuesday’s mayoral election to advance to an April runoff. Not one of the 9 candidates received a majority within the formally nonpartisan election.
Paul Vallas, 69, the previous head of Chicago Public Colleges, and Brandon Johnson, 46, on the Cook dinner County Board of Commissioners, got here out as the highest two vote-getters. Vallas, who claimed the biggest share of the vote with 34%, had mentioned he would fireplace Brown if elected mayor.
Here is what to know.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown resigns
Brown knowledgeable Lightfoot of the choice on Wednesday, Lightfoot mentioned. He took over as head of the nation’s second-largest municipal police division in April of 2020, overseeing the company amid rising crime on the top of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests within the wake of the homicide of George Floyd.
First Deputy Eric Carter will likely be appointed as interim superintendent till the brand new mayor is sworn into workplace, Lightfoot mentioned. She known as on the town’s newly fashioned civilian police oversight physique – the Neighborhood Fee for Public Security and Accountability – to instantly start the seek for a brand new superintendent.
In a press release, Lightfoot applauded Brown for setting a file variety of unlawful gun recoveries for 2 years, main a double-digit discount in violent crime in 2022, standing up a full-time recruitment group that yielded over 950 new hires, increasing assets for officer wellness and selling extra girls to senior ranks.
“I personally wish to thank him for his service to our metropolis,” Lightfoot mentioned.
In a press release, Brown mentioned he accepted a job as Chief Working Officer of Loncar Lyon Jenkins, a private harm regulation agency with seven workplaces in Texas. He mentioned he is stepping down “so the incoming mayor can start the method as quickly as potential to rent the following Superintendent.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside the courageous women and men of the Chicago Police Division,” Brown mentioned. “I’ll proceed to hope that every one officers return dwelling to their households protected on the finish of their shift. Could the Good Lord bless the town of Chicago and the women and men who serve and defend this nice metropolis.”
The Chicago Police Division has about 12,000 sworn officers and has lengthy been stricken by scandals. A Justice Division report launched in 2017 discovered the CPD is beset by widespread racial bias, extreme use of power, poor coaching and feckless oversight of officers accused of misconduct.
The division and metropolis since 2019 have been beneath a federal consent decree, a court-approved settlement that requires the division to reform coaching, insurance policies and practices in quite a few areas.
John Lausch, U.S. Lawyer in Chicago, resigns
Lausch introduced his departure moments after information of Brown’s resignation late Wednesday. He is served within the position since late 2017, when he was appointed by President Donald Trump.
Lausch spearheaded the workplace by way of the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw a number of racketeering prosecutions of members of organized felony road gangs and gang factions, in addition to of unlawful gun offenders. His workplace additionally launched a Gun Crimes Prosecution Group and a Gun Trafficking Strike Power.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to steer the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace in Chicago,” Lausch mentioned.
First Assistant U.S. Lawyer Morris “Sonny” Pasqual will assume the place on an appearing foundation, the workplace mentioned in a press release.
What the Chicago mayoral candidates are saying
In a press release, mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson mentioned: “The subsequent superintendent of the Chicago Police Division have to be as absolutely dedicated to the well being and security of all Chicagoans as I’m, and to instantly assembly all necessities of the federal consent decree whereas addressing the foundation causes of crime.”
“As mayor, my desire will likely be to nominate somebody from throughout the present ranks of the Division, however most essential is appointing the fitting individual for the job – somebody who’s collaborative, competent and compassionate, and who really cares about defending and serving the folks of our metropolis,” Johnson mentioned.
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Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY