Chicago – Mayor Rahm Emanuel asked on Tuesday for Chicago Police Superintended Garry McCarthy resignation.
Rahm claimed the decision was made due a lack of public trust in the police officer leadership, after a white officer was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Laquan McDonald –a black 17 year old shot 16 times last year.
“Superintendent McCarthy knows that a police officer is only as effective as when he has the trust of those he serves,” Emanuel said at a City Hall news conference.
Last week, the city released a video from a patrol car’s dashboard camera after facing criticism for holding the video for 13 months. The footage shows white officer, Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald in the middle of a street on October 20th, 2014, as McDonald was walking away from police who had confronted him. Van Dyke, was charged with first-degree murder. After the realizing of the video Protests followed asking for McCarthy’s resignation.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he asked McCarthy for his resignation due to growing suspicion in the city that McCarthy kept the public from seeing the video because he was more interested in protecting his officers than city residents.
Even though McCarthy’s dismissal was announced, critics of the way the city is handling the case has pushed for more change, and some leaders demanded additional investigations. Federal authorities have had an open criminal investigation into the shooting since April, and the U.S. Department of Justice might still investigate the police force.
Some critics claim for the resignation of the local prosecutor for waiting 13 months to charge Officer Jason Van Dyke with murder. Others have said Mr. Emanuel should step down or at least be subject to an outside investigation for his administration’s handling of the case.
Source: The Chicago Tribune