The Latest on Chicago police recommending that seven police officer be fired in the Laquan McDonald case (all times local): 11:45 a.m.
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The most senior police officer in Chicago has recommended that seven of his colleagues are fired for “lying” after they shot black teenager Laquan McDonald nearly two years ago.
But community activists praised Johnson’s announcement, saying the rare move shows he is serious about overhauling department practices.
Police released the dashcam footage in November after Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration fought to withhold the video for a year before a judge ordered its release. As seen in police video – Van Dyke arrived, exited his vehicle with his gun drawn and opened fire.
Another two officers who had been under investigation have retired.
Included among hundreds of documents that the city has released are officers’ accounts describing McDonald menacingly advancing on police and waving a knife threateningly at them right before Van Dyke fired. A lieutenant involved in the department’s response to the shooting, Anthony Wojcik, retired in May; the deputy chief who ruled Van Dyke’s shooting in compliance with departmental policy, David McNaughton, retired this week, just as it became publicly known that the inspector general’s office had delivered its report.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Johnson spared an eighth officer, who is female, because he disagreed with the city Inspector General’s recommendation for her to be fired as well. He is awaiting trial on murder charges and has been suspended without pay. Jason Van Dyke, the officer who shot McDonald 16 times, has been since charged with murder.
A video of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald’s 2014 shooting death sparked outrage, led to a federal civil rights probe of the city’s police department, and was one of several police shootings of African Americans that spurred street protests around the country.
“When McDonald got to within 12 to 15 feet of the officers, he swung the knife toward the officers in an aggressive manner”, Van Dyke’s partner said in an official police report.
Another wrote that, Van Dyke “in defense of his life … backpedaled and fired his handgun at McDonald”. The graphic footage shows Van Dyke shooting the teen execution-style as he walked away. Johnson recommended that the board fire them. Prosecutors say the 3-inch blade was found folded into the handle.
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Supt. Eddie Johnson issued an e-mail on Thursday recommending the termination and suspending the officers of their police powers, the Chicago Tribune reported.
