CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago's police union is strongly criticizing Mayor Lightfoot, after she accused 13 police officers of lounging in the burgled South Side campaign office of Congressman Bobby Rush on June 1 as nearby businesses were being looted.
On Thursday, as the video came to light, she promised the several officers seen relaxing, making coffee and popcorn, and in one case sleeping, should face "the strongest possible action that we can take," for effectively shrugging off their duties while social unrest rocked the city. The Chicago officers were at a campaign office of Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, on June 1 after it had been broken into, Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot said it is too soon to say whether any of the officers could be fired, "but here is what I will also say, you know who you are, you know what you did, don't make us come find you."
Lightfoot said this instance shows why changes are needed in the police contract to lift restrictions that could prevent adequate punishment of officers.
But the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 has its own explanation, WBBM Newsradio's Jim Gudas reports. An official said the officers would not have been in Rush's office without an invitation. As such, Michael Mette, the FOP's first vice president said the officers appear to have been set up.
"I find it very difficult to think that these officers were just inside Bobby Rush's office without permission," he said. "Me personally, as a police office, I wouldn't go sit in Bobby Rush's office, again whether or not I was told I could make myself at home or not, but that being said, the way that video looked, it looked like they had permission to be there."
Mette speculates Lightfoot is seeking to deflect attention from her own failings in dealing with George Floyd protests that devolved into vandalism and looting. He said the Mayor's news conference Thursday with Rush appeared "staged" and comes as Lightfoot is trying to take away protections officers have when they are accused of wrongdoing.
He also said protections in the police contract are needed to give officers due process considering all the scrutiny they face.
Overall, Mette said police did a good job, and at least prevented further damage.
"Our members did a hell of a job keeping this city from being far worse than it could have been. Within 24 hours, the Mayor allowed the city to burn, and within just over 24 hours after that, our members were able to nip it in the bud and stop it from happening any further."