SandyMaloneChicago, IL – Hundreds of Chicago police officers swarmed City Hall in protest on Wednesday afternoon to show their displeasure with the mayor.
Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) organized the protest and brought in cops by the bus load for what has been referred to as “Blue Wednesday,” FOX News reported.
Off-duty officers carrying signs that said “Blue Lives Matter” and “Back the Blue” chanted “Rahm must go” and “We are CPD” as they marched around City Hall on May 23, WLS reported.
The demonstration was planned in response to the Chicago Police Board’s recent decision to put Officer Robert Rialmo on a no-pay status for a 2015 fatal shooting that had been ruled justified by Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson, FOX News reported.
Not only was the shooting ruled justified, but the city went so far as to sue the dead suspect’s estate.
The shooting occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 26, 2015, when Chicago Police Department (CPD) Officer Robert Rialmo and his partner responded to reports of a disturbance at an apartment where Quintonio LeGrier was staying, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Jones, who lived in a downstairs apartment, opened the door for officers and directed them to an upper-floor apartment.
But as officers began climbing the stairs, LeGrier charged down at them with a baseball bat raised over his head, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office revealed, according to the Chicago Tribune.
As the officers quickly backed down the stairs and onto the front landing, Officer Rialmo fired at LeGrier, who had continued his pursuit of the officers.
LeGrier was hit by six of the eight bullets fired by Officer Rialmo.
Jones, who was standing behind LeGrier when the altercation took place, was shot once in the chest.
Jones and LeGrier both died from their gunshot wounds.
The city’s lawsuit blamed LeGrier for “negligent acts and/or omissions,” and noted that he failed to follow police commands, advanced on officers, swung the bat at police, and failed to take medication to control his mental illness, the Chicago Tribune reported.
After word of the lawsuit created political backlash, Mayor Emanuel apologized to the dead suspect’s family and called off the lawsuit.
The city’s civilian review panel then determined that the shooting was unjustified, despite the shooting having already been ruled justified.
Because of the civilian review board’s decision, the officer was placed on unpaid leave.
Hundreds of officers arrived to voice their anger and distrust of the mayor.
Kenneth Boudreau posted a video of the mayor talking and eating rather than listing to officers’ issues.
The mayor has failed to back officers or take any responsibility for issues involving law enforcement. A spokesperson for the mayor claimed that the hands-off approach helped build trust.
“When you have people on either side of the police reform issue criticizing, it’s a sign we’re hitting it down the middle of the fairway as we continue to build trust between officers and residents, ensure oversight and accountability, and give officers the tools and training they need to be proactive in the crime fight,” a spokesperson for the mayor told FOX News in a statement.
The FOP said the mayor has “turned his back” on his police department by worrying more about “pandering to police-hating media” and giving in to the ACLU, according to FOX News.