No Confidence Vote On Lightfoot, Top Cops From Police Union

CHICAGO — Board members of the Fraternal Order of Police issued a vote of no confidence in Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown and First Deputy Supt. Eric Carter, the rank-and-file police officers union said Wednesday.

The no-confidence vote against Lightfoot, Brown and Brown's second-in-command, Carter, is the latest in a long list of issues between Chicago leaders and country's second largest police union.

FOP President John Catanzara said in a video statement that officers were having their days off canceled and switched to 12-hour shifts during possible protests. The poor working conditions, he said, showed a lack of consideration for officers and their families.

"Too many of our officers have worked extended hours, not voluntarily, but forced," Catanzara said. "And the compensation for starters is the same whether you volunteer or not. That makes absolutely no sense but the department doesn’t give a damn."

The last time rank-and-file officers, meaning no captains or others in high leadership roles, issued a vote of no-confidence was in 2019 with former Police Supt. Eddie Johnson. The union criticized then-Supt. Johnson for not attending a speech by then-President Donald Trump at McCormick Place for the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention.

When asked about the vote, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said it did not affect his ability to "stay focused" on the people of Chicago.

"Every year in the summer months we make adjustments to our hours based on violence," he said. "And every year our officers rise to the occasion. I want to make sure all of you understand that our officers are dedicated and committed to protecting the people of Chicago, which often means adjusting our hours to be in the neighborhoods at the hours when violence is occurring."

Chicago's thousands of rank-and-file police have gone without a contract for three years, as the Lightfoot administration and FOP remain divided on terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

Another reason the FOP cited for the no-confidence vote was the cancellation of this year's annual St. Jude Memorial March for fallen officers. Last week was Police Week, but the parade was canceled due to COVID-19 guidelines.

According to officials from the FOP, 200 officers attended Wednesday's meeting and unanimously supported the no-confidence vote. The action is only symbolic, but Catanzara said he hopes city officials respond with their thoughts on the matter.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot responded to the police union’s thumbs down vote on her administration at an unrelated news conference Thursday by highlighting the FOP’s expired contract.

“They are refusing to come to the table and bargain,” Lightfoot said. “Four years on and their members are not getting any kind of wage increase. … And why? Because the current administration of the FOP is to do nothing? Why? Because they don’t want to face the realities that we are in.”

The mayor said police supervisor contracts now include “monumental” reforms and state laws related to police have changed to favor police accountability. She said by refusing to negotiate a new contract that follows suit, FOP leaders are depriving members are losing “tens of thousands of dollars every year” in back pay.

“Frankly, getting a vote of no confidence from that guy [Catanzara] is a badge of honor accepted,” Lightfoot said.