In 2014, Jason Van Dyke, a Chicago police officer, shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times. 18, 2016, he will recommend the firing of seven officers involved in the shooting.
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Johnson’s decision follows the release of a report from the Chicago inspector general that called for 10 officers to be fired.
Those findings were harshly criticized when the video was released in November that showed McDonald didn’t threaten officers.
After receiving this report, police officials and outside attorneys reviewed it and agreed to recommend firing seven officers, Anthony Guglielmi, a police spokesman, said Thursday morning.
“While I know that this type of action can come with many questions and varying opinions, please know that these decisions were not made lightly”, Johnson wrote to officers, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The superintendent can’t now fire police officers.
In the wake of national outrage over the case, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired the former superintendent of police and hired Eddie Johnson in March. He says “humans” experience traumatic situations differently and that, “contrary to popular belief, police officer are human beings”. He said their interpretation of what unfolded may have been accurate from their perspective, noting that perceptions can be affected in high-stress situations, like shootings.
“That’s what humans go through”, he said.
But, the mayor quickly added, “It’s very important to bring a level of transparency to the police department because I think that transparency builds trust and confidence in not only the oversight but also the culture and values of the police department”.
Get free real-time news alerts from the Chicago Patch. A police board makes the final decision. Officer Jason Van Dyke has been charged with first-degree murder. The video has no sound, nor do videos from four other squad cars at the scene.
On the video, Van Dyke is seen shooting the teenager even as he appears to move away from police and after he falls to the ground.
Van Dyke’s partner, Walsh, said McDonald continued to advance on them, ignoring commands to drop a knife in his hand. Video seemed to belie those accounts. After one or two shots, McDonald collapses, barely moving except for slight twitches as bullets pummel his body.
Rachel Leven, a spokeswoman for the Inspector General’s office, said its policy on sustained investigations of wrongdoing is to release summaries in the office’s quarterly report – the next of which is due to be released in October.
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The decision comes three days after Chicago’s inspector general issued a damning report recommending that 10 officers be fired or disciplined in the McDonald case.
