Chicago's top cop resigns a day after Lori Lightfoot lost re-election bid as ... trends now

Chicago's top cop resigns a day after Lori Lightfoot lost re-election bid as ... trends now
Chicago's top cop resigns a day after Lori Lightfoot lost re-election bid as ... trends now

Chicago's top cop resigns a day after Lori Lightfoot lost re-election bid as ... trends now

The Chicago Police Department’s superintendent announced Wednesday he will step down in two weeks, hours after it was confirmed that Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who championed him, lost her reelection bid in a mayoral primary election where violent crime in the nation’s third largest city was a central issue.

Superintendent David Brown was appointed in April 2020 by Lightfoot. 

April's run off election will be contested between Paul Vallas, who has the backing of the police union, and Brandon Johnson, who has the backing of the teacher's union.

All of Lightfoot’s eight rivals said they would fire Brown and replace him with someone else. That included the two candidates who advanced to the April 4 runoff, Vallas and Johnson. 

At the time that he was appointed, Brown stated that his goal was to get the city's murder rate below 300 annually. In 2022, Chicago saw more than double that with 695 homicides. That was down slightly from 2021's number of 820. 

Superintendent David Brown announced on Wednesday that he leave his job as Chicago's top cop on March 16

Superintendent David Brown announced on Wednesday that he leave his job as Chicago's top cop on March 16

Chicago police work the scene where a police officer was shot and killed along with a suspect who was seriously wounded in the city's Gage Park section

Chicago police work the scene where a police officer was shot and killed along with a suspect who was seriously wounded in the city's Gage Park section

Brown revealed he was leaving hours before a Chicago police officer died after being wounded during a shootout while responding to a call of a man chasing a woman with a gun.

'I’ve accepted a job opportunity to be the Chief Operating Officer of Loncar Lyon Jenkins, a personal injury law firm with seven offices in Texas,' Brown’s announcement said.

'I will be stepping down as Chicago Police Superintendent effective March 16, 2023 so the incoming mayor can begin the process as soon as possible to hire the next Superintendent.'

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will compile a list of possible candidates to replace Brown and submit them to Chicago's new mayor. The chosen candidate will then need to be confirmed by the City Council before assuming office. 

On Wednesday, Lightfoot asked the commission to begin the selection process as soon as possible.  

Brown, the former police chief of Dallas between 2016 and 2020, will turn 63 on Oct. 22, the retirement age for Chicago cops. 

He was the chief during the July 7, 2016 shooting that killed five police officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas. 

His role began at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic where he was charged with enforcing Lightfoot's strict lockdown protocols and the protests that followed the police murder of George Floyd that summer. 

Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her re-election bid over criticisms of her soft-on-crime approach amid a steady spike in violence. Pictured: Lightfoot at her election night rally on February 28

Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her re-election bid over criticisms of her soft-on-crime approach amid a steady spike in violence. Pictured: Lightfoot at her election night rally on February 28

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas is polling first in the mayoral race

Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson is polling second and just closely ahead of Lightfoot

 Paul Vallas (left) and Brandon Johnson (right) are headed for the run-off election in April

In 2021, Brown oversaw the response to the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago's Little Village section. The response included changes to the force's foot pursuit policies.  

'It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department,' the resignation statement continued. 

'I will continue to pray that all officers return home to their families safe at the end of their shift. May the Good Lord bless the city of Chicago and the men and women who serve and protect this great city.'  

Lightfoot issued a statement commending Brown for setting a record number of illegal gun recoveries for two consecutive years, leading a double-digit reduction in violent crime in 2022.

The outgoing mayor said that Brown's efforts 'significantly expanding the resources for officer wellness; and promoting more women to the senior exempt ranks than ever before in the history of the department.' 

'I accepted his resignation and wanted to commend him for his accomplishments, not just for the department for the entire city... I personally want to thank him for his service to our

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