'But ... The Mayor's Got His Back'

Listen to this interesting exchange among some Chicago Police officers talking on their radios Tuesday as they learn Superintendent Garry McCarthy was relieved of his command by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Not too long ago, McCarthy publicly expressed his appreciation for the mayor’s support, saying “he’s got my back.”

And until Tuesday morning, Emanuel was vociferous in his support for keeping McCarthy on as chief despite the clamor among activists and African-American politicians for a new police chief. And for a new mayor.

From behind, that back looked ready for a shove.

The firing isn’t sitting well among many police officers.

“Everybody’s got everybody else’s back. The superintendent made that statement multiple times. The mayor made that statement multiple times. You find out the next day that he’s gone. How can you not be surprised? We were pretty sure the superintendent was staying. I don’t know what happened that changed that,” Fraternal Order of Police President Dean Angelo told the Chicago Sun-Times. “With everything going on and the demonstrations and upheaval about the department being examined . . . I don’t know that you change your top guy while all that is going on.

“The rank-and-file is beat up. It’s another kick to the department, another blow to the members.”

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