New Chicago Police Superintendent Search Continues

By Ashahed M. Muhammad -Assistant Editor- | Last updated: Feb 9, 2016 - 9:55:19 PM

For activists, departmental accountability and reform remain key concerns

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at a recent press conference. Photo: Haroon Rajaee

CHICAGO—Some considered it strange when Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that he was bringing former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey in to serve as a senior advisor to the Chicago Police Department.

Activists continue to call for his resignation, due to his mishandling of the situation in the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Mayor Emanuel’s critics have charged him with being a major part of a cover-up to suppress dash cam video footage showing what actually took place at the moment Mr. McDonald was killed. Later, it was revealed that officers at the scene falsified reports and the upper echelon of the Chicago Police Department knew it, and did nothing.

At the time, Garry McCarthy was the city’s top cop, and Mayor Emanuel was criticized by the city’s residents as well as members of the force, for bringing someone in from outside to run the force. Mr. McCarthy, widely seen as Mayor Emanuel’s scapegoat in the handling of the McDonald case is reportedly a top candidate to head the London Metropolitan Police.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Police Department announced Mr. Ramsey would “help guide critical civil rights reforms” as a result of his over four decades of law enforcement experience and although some may think he is an outsider, he really isn’t said Mayor Emanuel.

“Commissioner Ramsey is not only a national leader in urban policing who has led two major police departments through civil rights reforms—he is also a native Chicagoan who knows our police department and our communities. With roots in Englewood, he has a unique understanding of the important role community relationships play in making our city safer,” said Mayor Emanuel.

In January 2015, President Barack Obama named Commissioner Ramsey the co-chair of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, brought together to identify strategies aimed at improving police community relations nationwide.

In this Dec. 22, 2015, file photo, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, center, refers to the Justice Department’s six-month assessment report in his hand as Mayor Michael Nutter, right, and Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross, left, listen during a news conference in Philadelphia. Ramsey returns to Chicago to help amid protests that have called for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign, Emanuel’s office announced, Jan. 24. Photo: AP/Wide World photo

During Mr. Ramsey’s tenure as Philadelphia’s top cop, which began in January 2008 under then-Mayor Michael Nutter, there were a record number of police involved shootings there. Like most big city police chiefs, they are polarizing figures.

While there were charges of corruption and brutality on his watch, he is not without his supporters who cite good things he did, such as cutting crime dramatically through the implementation of high visibility patrol tactics and mandating that the names of officers involved in shootings be released within 72 hours of the incident. He served as chief of police in Washington D.C., from 1998 to 2007, and in the Chicago Police Department between the years 1971 and 1998, achieving the rank of deputy superintendent.

Community activist Afrika Porter believes the person who steps into the superintendent’s position in Chicago will have their hands full “because they will have to come in and fix a very corrupt system.”

She said some have recommended Mayor Emanuel seek the counsel of whistle-blower Lorenzo Davis. Mr. Davis is a former Independent Police Review Authority investigative supervisor who said he was pressured to change his findings that many police-involved shootings did not warrant the use of lethal force. His conclusions, likely unpopular with the upper echelon of the police department and some city officials, resulted in him being fired, he said. Mr. Davis has called for federal investigations into his claims related to IPRA.

As far as Mr. Ramsey’s consultant role, she is skeptical of anything Mayor Emanuel does, but is willing to see how things turn out. She said some reform minded former police officers as well as other community activists are of the opinion that he is a “go along to get along type” while others see the move as a good one, even if it is considered a strategic move by Mayor Emanuel to appear as if he is being responsive to critics who have called for his resignation.

“It will be interesting to see how things progress regarding this appointment,” she said.

Police Board President Lori Lightfoot’s name has also come up and questions have been raised regarding whether she had interest in being the next police superintendent have been raised. She said she wasn’t interested nor did she consider herself qualified to do so because she had not worked as a police officer.

Also controversial is the fact that Mayor Emanuel will reportedly pay Mr. Ramsey a $350-an-hour fee, and there is some speculation that the move could be part of a strategy by the mayor to ensure he has a superintendent responsive to him, although Emanuel and Ramsey have both dismissed such speculation.

Protesters stand with signs in downtown Chicago during recent demonstrations against police shootings and police brutality. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

In his comments, Mr. Ramsey seemed to come right out of Mayor Emanuel’s talking points.

“Chicago is at a defining moment, and I believe that Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Police Department are committed to meet the challenge,” said Commissioner Ramsey. “The situation in Chicago is not unlike many in cities across the country, but the people of Chicago should know that their leaders are working hard to restore trust where it has been lost. Progress won’t happen overnight, but a sustained and continued effort will put Chicago on a path forward,” said Mr. Ramsey.

Currently, there are about 40 candidates for the top job, and those that pass the background checks will be brought in for face-to-face interviews.

In December 2015, the United States Justice Department announced a civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department.

Blaming the victim?

In the wake of highly publicized protests at the end of last year, a new troubling and strange twist has emerged. Some members of the Chicago Police Department who are involved in shootings are using the legal system as a weapon in their “blame the victim” strategy.

Officer George Hernandez fatally shot 25-year-old Ronald Johnson III on October 12, 2014. He said Mr. Johnson turned and pointed a gun at him, and he fired in self-defense. It was clear from dash cam video that Mr. Johnson was fleeing, but not so clear that he pointed a gun at Hernandez, nor whether he even had one.

Dorothy Holmes, Ronald Johnson’s outspoken mother repeatedly called for justice for her son, and has stated that Black mothers love their children as much as killer cops love theirs. Attorneys for the officer took her public words at rallies as threats to Ofc. Hernandez and his family and late last year filed a request for Ms. Holmes to be punished and sanctioned as a result of her comments. Corporation Counsel Steve Patton intervened and the legal motion was withdrawn. However, Mr. Johnson’s family is still pursuing a wrongful death suit against the city and vows not to be intimidated.

Then on February 5, Chicago police Officer Robert Rialmo who fatally shot 19-year-old Northern Illinois University engineering student Quintonio LeGrier who was home for winter break, and Bettie Jones, a 55-year-old mother of five and a grandmother who was well loved within the community is now filing a lawsuit against the Mr. LeGrier’s estate.

According to the legal filing, Ofc. Rialmo argues Mr. LeGrier’s own actions caused the shooting and as a result, the officer now suffers from “extreme emotional trauma.” He is seeking $10 million.

Ernest Coverson, Midwest Regional Field Organizer for Amnesty International USA called it “insensitive” and saying instead of working to solve what is clearly a crisis situation resulting in an intense Federal investigation, their focus appears to be on seeking ways to evade justice,

“I think it is insensitive and I think it is retaliation and in response to the current state of Black America in regards to the police force,” said Mr. Coverson.

He says it is unheard of that a police officer would file a lawsuit in such a way, but he believes more scrutiny of police departments nationwide continues.

“I think that we are going to see more of this and even more side moves as the scrutiny of police forces in regards to police departments and their use of lethal force continues,” he added.

The Final Call