Chicago Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, fired retiring Police Superintendent, Eddie Johnson today, saying that he lied about an October incident in which he was found sleeping in his car at a stop sign after supposedly having drinks with his dinner, CNN reports.
“It has become clear that Mr. Johnson engaged in a series of actions that are intolerable for any leader in a position of trust, particularly the head of the Chicago Police Department,” Lightfoot said in a news conference. “Mr. Johnson failed the hardworking members of the Chicago Police Department, he intentionally misled the people of Chicago and he intentionally misled me. None of that is acceptable.”
Lightfoot said she met with Johnson today to deliver the bad news, and he was reportedly “accepting,” of his fate. Johnson’s actions on the night of October 16 and morning of October 17 demonstrated “a series of ethical lapses and flawed decision making,” Lightfoot said. She added that he then went on to promptly hold a news conference after the incident in which he was dishonest with the public.
“He was not caught off guard and he had plenty of time to choose his words, and the choice he made was a communicated narrative replete with false statements all seemingly intended to hide the true nature of his conduct the evening before,” Lightfoot said.
Even when Lightfoot said she challenged his story, she claims he maintained that he was telling the truth.
“I now know definitively that he was not,” she said. “Had I known these facts at the time, I would’ve relieved him of his duties as superintendent then and there. I certainly would not have participated in a celebratory press conference to announce his retirement.”
Last month, Johnson said he was stepping down after 30 years with the department. He would continue in his role until year’s end, Lightfoot said.
