CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Chief and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois announced Wednesday that they are stepping down, hours after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. she lost her candidacy for re-election.
In a statement, Lightfoot announced that Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown will be stepping down as of March 16.
John Rausch Jr., the head of Chicago’s federal attorney’s office, will resign effective March 11, his office said in a statement.
The news of his departure comes after Lightfoot failed to get enough votes in Tuesday’s mayoral election to advance to the runoff in April. also failed to obtain a majority.
Former Chicago Public Schools principal Paul Ballas, 69, and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, 46, came out as the top two vote earners. His Vallas, who received the most votes with 34% of the vote, had said he would fire Brown if elected mayor.
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Chicago police superintendent David Brown resigns
Brown notified Lightfoot of the decision on Wednesday, Lightfoot said. He took over as head of his second-largest local police department in the United States in April 2020, amid rising crime at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd’s murder. I oversaw the agency during the protests.
Deputy Mayor Eric Carter will be appointed interim superintendent of schools pending a new mayor, Mayor Lightfoot said. She called on the city’s newly formed civilian police oversight agency, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, to begin a search for a new overseer immediately.
In a statement, Lightfoot said Brown had achieved a record number of illegal gun recalls in two years, resulting in a double-digit reduction in violent crime in 2022 and created more than 950 new hires. Launching a full-time recruitment team, health care for officers and promotion of more women to senior positions.
“I would like to personally thank him for his service to our city,” said Lightfoot.
In a statement, Brown said he has accepted a job as chief operating officer of Loncar Lyon Jenkins, a personal injury law firm with seven offices in Texas. He said he would step down “so that the incoming mayor can begin the process of hiring the next superintendent as soon as possible.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department,” Brown said. May the good Lord bless the city of Chicago and those who serve and protect this great city.”
The Chicago Police Department has about 12,000 sworn officers and has long been plagued by scandals.a Department of Justice report published in 2017 The CPD was found to be plagued by widespread racial prejudice, excessive use of force, inadequate training and reckless surveillance of officers accused of misconduct.
Since 2019, the department and city have been under a federal consent order, and a court-approved settlement requires the department to reform training, policies and practices in many areas.
Chicago federal prosecutor John Rausch resigns
Rausch announced his resignation shortly after news of Brown’s resignation late Wednesday.
Lausch spearheaded the office through the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing multiple extortion prosecutions of members of organized crime street gangs and gang factions, as well as illegal gun offenders. His office also launched a gun crime prosecution team and a gun trafficking squad.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege to lead the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago,” Rausch said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morris “Sonny” Pascual will fill the role on his behalf, the firm said in a statement.
Chicago mayoral candidate voice
In a statement, mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson said, “The Chicago Police Department’s incoming superintendent is as committed to the health and safety of all Chicagoans as I am to fulfilling all requirements of the Federal Consent Order with immediate effect. It must be met: the root cause of crime.”
“As mayor, my preference is to appoint someone from the ranks of the current department, but most importantly, the right person for the job: supportive, competent, caring, protective. , is to appoint someone who really cares about serving… the people of our city,” Johnson said.
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By: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Chicago Police Chief David Brown to resign March 16