*Looks like somebody done effed up and pissed off the mayor. That “somebody” is Chicago police chief Eddie Johnson and the pissed-off mayor is Lori Lightfoot.
So, as of now, Eddie Johnson is no longer the police chief or Police Superintendent as he was formally (and formerly) known because Mayor Lightfoot fired him on Monday.
That’s right. Lightfoot took the dramatic step of canning Johnson with less than a month before he was due to retire … for allegedly lying about falling asleep in his car after ‘a few drinks’ in October.
At a press conference, a furious Mayor Lightfoot accused Johnson of deliberately “misleading” her, the city and the police department about his claims in October.
As was reported then, Johnson was found asleep behind the wheel of his car on October 17 at 12:30am after a member of the public called 911.
When an officer approached him, he blamed his drowsiness on a mix-up with medication he was taking and said he had had a “few” drinks at dinner.
He then gave the mayor the same story and said he had pulled over because it was the responsible thing to do. Johnson subsequently announced he would be retiring in December.
Hmm, apparently the mayor was suspicious of Johnson’s story and after conducting an investigation into the incident which included reviewing surveillance footage of the night in question, Mayor Lightfoot came to the conclusion that Johnson lied about the incident.
Interestingly, though, she is refusing to supply details of how she came to her conclusion, saying she wanted to protect his wife and children, but she did say it amounted to conduct that was “unbecoming” of his position.
“It has become clear that Mr. Johnson engaged in a series of ethical lapses that are intolerable.
“Mr. Johnson was intentionally dishonest with me and communicated a narrative replete with false statements regarding material aspects of the incident that happened in the early morning hours of October 17.
“Had I known all the facts at the time, I would have relieved him of his duties as superintendent then and there,” she said.
Lightfoot, once an ally of Johnson’s – added: “The old Chicago way must give way to the new reality.
“There must be no mistake about the message I am sending today.”
Again, Johnson was only weeks away from retiring.
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