Eddie Johnson Fired

Nico DeGrazia

Rehak

Period 1

12-18-19

Eddie Johnson Fired

Nearly a month after Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced his plans to retire, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced his firing. Evie Calderon ‘20 said, “what’s the point of firing someone who is already stepping down?” This comes after Johnson was found unconscious behind the wheel on October seventeenth. Johnson said that the reason he was unconscious was because of a past medical issue, but Lightfoot stated that was not the case. 

Mayor Lightfoot stated, “Eddie Johnson intentionally lied to me several times even when I challenged him about the narrative that he shared with me,” she then stated, “He maintained that he was telling the truth. I now know definitively that he was not.” Eddie Johnson had been serving as Superintendent for three years after being appointed by former Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. When asked for their thoughts on the situation, Emily Servin ‘21 stated, “I think it looks bad for the Mayor to change her opinion so suddenly. She should’ve gotten the facts before she defended him.” 

This firing came to the surprise of many since Lightfoot defended Johnson last month, stating, “These stars can sometimes feel like carrying the weight of the world.” Nevertheless, the mayor seems to have lost all trust in Johnson. During Eddie’s time as Superintendent, shootings decreased year after year. Nathan S. ‘25 said, “I think the Mayor should’ve just let him retire with dignity rather than degrading him.” Like Nathan, I hope the city can remember Johnson for the good work that he did, not just for his mistakes.