• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Georgia officer pushes stranded woman’s car to gas station
        Washington police K-9 retires after nearly a decade of service
        “An emotional encounter”: Connecticut police officer talks a man...
        California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
        Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
    • Labor
      • South Dakota Police Department offers $5,000 hiring bonuses to boost...
        Sioux Falls Police Department offers $5K hiring bonuses to boost...
        San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to...
        Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to...
        Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
    • Tech
      • NYPD iconic police cruisers get high-tech makeover
        NYPD warns of police attacks after Apple AirTag device was found on...
        Airbnb expands law enforcement portal to fight child trafficking
        West Virginia law enforcement agencies use drones to get a...
        FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime...
    • Training
      • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
        Running your patrol rifle like a champion
        Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
        Defensive tactics
        Mechanics, consistency and aggression
    • Policy
      • Atlanta’s “Cop City” training center project approved despite...
        Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
        President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
        California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
        Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for...
        Coping with internal investigation or legal action
        The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
        What officers love, hope and worry about
        Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
    • Community
      • Washington’s King County sets record for fentanyl overdose deaths...
        Brotherly love: Police officer donates kidney to deputy sibling
        North Charleston police officer drafted by professional football team
        “I’m very, very blessed”: Cleveland police officer back on...
        Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
    • Offbeat
      • Pig crosses path with law enforcement in Virginia
        Texas police find cute dog behind the wheel in reckless driving...
        Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
        “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
        “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
    • We Remember
      • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
        Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
        Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
        Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
        At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • On the Job
    • Georgia officer pushes stranded woman’s car to gas station
      Washington police K-9 retires after nearly a decade of service
      “An emotional encounter”: Connecticut police officer talks a man...
      California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
      Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
  • Labor
    • South Dakota Police Department offers $5,000 hiring bonuses to boost...
      Sioux Falls Police Department offers $5K hiring bonuses to boost...
      San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to...
      Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to...
      Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
  • Tech
    • NYPD iconic police cruisers get high-tech makeover
      NYPD warns of police attacks after Apple AirTag device was found on...
      Airbnb expands law enforcement portal to fight child trafficking
      West Virginia law enforcement agencies use drones to get a...
      FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime...
  • Training
    • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
      Running your patrol rifle like a champion
      Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
      Defensive tactics
      Mechanics, consistency and aggression
  • Policy
    • Atlanta’s “Cop City” training center project approved despite...
      Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
      President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
      California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
      Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for...
      Coping with internal investigation or legal action
      The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
      What officers love, hope and worry about
      Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
  • Community
    • Washington’s King County sets record for fentanyl overdose deaths...
      Brotherly love: Police officer donates kidney to deputy sibling
      North Charleston police officer drafted by professional football team
      “I’m very, very blessed”: Cleveland police officer back on...
      Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
  • Offbeat
    • Pig crosses path with law enforcement in Virginia
      Texas police find cute dog behind the wheel in reckless driving...
      Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
      “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
      “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
  • We Remember
    • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
      Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
      Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
      Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
      At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • Between the Lines
    • Persecution of the LEO is Classic Schadenfreude
      The Rule of Law is Worthless Without Order
      School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
      Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
      The dichotomy of the defund movement: reality setting in
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Critics raise questions after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot proclaims her support for police

APB Team Published August 16, 2022 @ 12:00 pm PDT

iStock.com/400tmax

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently proclaimed her support for police at an Chicago Police Department graduation ceremony, but her statements likely fell on deaf ears after the past several years of actions that have alienated the law enforcement community.

In her speech at the Navy Pier Ballroom, the mayor told the room full of police academy graduates, promoted detectives, field training officers, captains and evidence technicians, “I will always have your back.”

Her words come at a time when morale is low and days off have been canceled. Additionally, Lightfoot eliminated over 600 vacancies in the department last year — effectively shrinking the agency to fit the budget.

Despite this change, Lightfoot assured the audience that she was never in favor of defunding police. “Our residents are desperate for your help and your support,” she said. “They want more police — not less police. We are not a city and will never be a city that bows to those arguing for defunding. That’s not who we are. And that’s not what our residents want.”

To back her statements, the city council approved a $189 million increase in police spending, amounting to a budget total of nearly $1.9 billion. Budget Director Susie Park has said the majority of that increase will go toward the new police contract, which includes a 20% pay raise over eight years.

The mayor also assured the 200 graduates that she will be supporting law enforcement for the rest of her tenure.

“Our residents and our city need your skillful, courageous and rapid response. I know how big of a responsibility this is. But I want you to also know that, as mayor of this city … I will always make sure that we are providing you with the best training, with the best resources to make sure that you are able to do your job, and when you need that extra support, that you have the resources that you need to heal,” Lightfoot said.

It’s been almost a year since CPD officers who were gathered at the University of Chicago Medical Center in support of Officer Carlos Yanez Jr. — who was critically wounded in a traffic stop shooting that left his partner Officer Ella French dead — gave the mayor the cold shoulder as she approached them.

Alderman Matt O’Shea said Lightfoot’s words are not enough, urging her to “put her money where her mouth is” by approving his ordinance guaranteeing officers one day off each week.

“This is a very important piece of legislation to show the men and women of the Chicago Police Department that we’re trying to take off some of the load,” O’Shea said.

Alderman Anthony Napolitano put forward another ordinance that allows officers to receive advance notice of their schedules and gives them the opportunity to decline excessive overtime hours.

Napolitano said Lightfoot’s “demonizing” officers over questionable videos posted to social media was proof that she was not unequivocally supportive of police. He also cited her choice of CPD superintendent David Brown as not being in line with the wishes of police leaders, as well as her support for policies limiting foot and vehicle pursuits.

“When you start implementing policies like a no-foot-chase policy, I mean — what do we go to? Stop or I’ll say stop again and, if you don’t, all right, maybe I’ll catch you next Thursday? Try not to kill somebody while you’re running away from me?” Napolitano asked.

Many in the law enforcement community similarly challenged the mayor’s statements.

“We are families of loved ones who have lost their life due to the horrific conditions that these men and women are working under. Conditions that have been condoned by her administration. If she really wants to have their back and make a real change for them, she needs to have a conversation with our families,” Julie Troglia, the widow of a CPD officer who committed suicide last year, said.

The CPD currently has 11,762 sworn officers, roughly 2,000 less than before Lightfoot took office. The department has a shortage of 1,408 sworn officers. The depleted ranks come after 814 retirements this year, following 973 for all last year and 625 the year before.

Categories: Policy Tags: Police Reform, budget, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Department, staffing shortage, retirement, recruits, mayor, graduation ceremony, Anthony Napolitano

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Atlanta’s “Cop City” training center project approved despite activist opposition
  • Pig crosses path with law enforcement in Virginia
  • NYPD iconic police cruisers get high-tech makeover
  • Georgia officer pushes stranded woman’s car to gas station
  • Washington’s King County sets record for fentanyl overdose deaths in 2022; morgue running out of space for bodies
  • NYPD warns of police attacks after Apple AirTag device was found on marked patrol vehicle
  • South Dakota Police Department offers $5,000 hiring bonuses to boost recruiting and diversity
  • Washington police K-9 retires after nearly a decade of service
  • Brotherly love: Police officer donates kidney to deputy sibling
  • Texas police find cute dog behind the wheel in reckless driving incident at Walmart

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.