CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been stamping out rumors that Chicago Police Supt. David Brown is on his way out, and she’s making it clear she’s tired of having to do that.
Mayor Lightfoot felt compelled to shoot down scurrilous rumors about her personal life on social media over the weekend, so she seemed annoyed that reporters were now asking her to respond to rumors that Brown was leaving.
Brown declined to enter the fray as he met with reporters for about 45 minutes Thursday as he took questions about the department.
Related
Lightfoot said David Brown is Chicago's police superintendent “today, tomorrow, in the future. Done," adding that the rumors that he is on his way out are “dangerous, de-stabilizing and insulting."
“People who don’t like how we’re moving forward and breaking up the status quo are trying to spread ugly, offensive and false rumors in order to create chaos. And some of you are taking the bait.”
She said she respects the news media and the job they have to do holding people like her accountable and asking hard questions.
"We need a vibrant, thorough media in this city that pushes all of us. Holds all of us accountable. But you are not doing that when you roll around in the depths of cesspools created by anonymous people on social media," Lightfoot said. “When you see this madness circulating on social media, you don’t have to be fish and bite at every piece of chum that’s cast in the water.”
Lightfoot went on to say, "you are not doing a service to anybody by giving credibility to nonsense. You're not and frankly, I think it delegitimizes the role of the media."
The Mayor also responded to complaints from some aldermen and others that Supt. Brown has not been very visible during the debate over police shootings, and such. Lightfoot said he has been visible - in the communities, at police roll calls, and he is doing his job.
“The superintendent has been appropriately present in the right places at the right time. He has been out in the community...He has been out there at roll calls and doing what, I think, a superintendent must do who is still forming relationships with a range of different people,” Lightfoot said.
"Standing up and holding a press conference in full regalia isn't necessarily leadership. Leadership is the things you do, the quiet things you do sometimes, to build real, authentic relationships, to be there for people that are in need...That is the way that David Brown leads and I support him a thousand-plus percent."
Related
