Record #: R2021-38   
Type: Resolution Status: Failed to Pass
Intro date: 1/27/2021 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Public Safety
Final action: 5/24/2023
Title: Call for resignation of John Catanzara as president and member of Lodge 7 of Fraternal Order of Police
Sponsors: Vasquez, Jr., Andre, La Spata, Daniel , Hopkins, Brian , Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Hairston, Leslie A., Sawyer, Roderick T., Mitchell, Gregory I., Harris, Michelle A., Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Cardenas, George A., Coleman, Stephanie D. , Moore, David H., Curtis, Derrick G., Taylor, Jeanette B. , Brookins, Jr., Howard, Rodriguez, Michael D., Scott, Jr. Michael, Sigcho-Lopez, Byron, Maldonado, Roberto, Burnett, Jr., Walter, Taliaferro, Chris, Cardona, Jr., Felix , Waguespack, Scott, Rodriguez Sanchez, Rossana , Austin, Carrie M., Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos, Villegas, Gilbert, Mitts, Emma, Reilly, Brendan, Smith, Michele, Tunney, Thomas, Cappleman, James, Martin, Matthew J. , Osterman, Harry, Hadden, Maria E. , Silverstein, Debra L., Valencia, Anna M.
Topic: CITY COUNCIL - Miscellaneous
Attachments: 1. R2021-38.pdf
Related files: R2023-766

Committees Assignment:                     Cn .

Committee on Public Safety

 

Committee on Public Safety

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, thousands armed and violent domestic terrorists who supported Donald Trump overran and occupied the United States Capitol in an attempt to prevent the lawful transfer of leadership to President-elect Joe Biden and,

 

WHEREAS, The attackers at the Capitol building came armed with firearms, improvised explosive devices, armor, restraints, and other clear and obvious weapons of war, said items having no purpose other than the violent disruption ofthe governance ofthe United States of America, and,

 

WHEREAS, The domestic terrorist attack led to the death of 6 individuals, including 2 police officers and injuries to many others, and

 

WHEREAS, John Catanzara, the serving President of Lodge 7 ofthe Fraternal Order of Police, spoke in support ofthe actions of those armed insurrectionists, stating ofthe attackers at the Capitol building in a recorded interview with WBEZ that "They get to do what they want," and "They're entitled to voice their frustration," and ""If the worst crime here is trespassing, so be it. But to call these people treasonous is beyond ridiculous and ignorant," and

 

WHEREAS, the National Fraternal Order of Police rebuked Catanzara's characterization of the attackers at the Capitol stating "The National FOP rejects this gross mischaracterization and sees the incident for what it was—a violent mob of looters and vandals, visiting fear and destruction on one of our nation's most sacred spaces, who should be held accountable for their actions and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," and

 

WHEREAS, the Constitution and By-Laws of Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police bar from membership "Any person who is a member of, or subscribes to, or supports the principles of any organization having as its purpose the overthrow ofthe government ofthe United States by force or violence," and

 

WHEREAS, Sydney Roberts, Chief Administrator ofthe Civilian Office of Police Accountability made a recommendation in 2020 that Catanzara be fired from the Chicago Police Department based on his prior misconduct, and

 

WHEREAS, the residents of Chicago deserve to have faith in their police force, and the sworn officers of Chicago deserve union representation by leadership who reflect their highest ideals and strictest fealty to the Constitution and the laws of the nation, state, and city, now therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled here on this 27th day of January, 2021, do hereby call upon John Catanzara to resign his position as President of Lodge 7 ofthe Fraternal Order of Police, and his membership in that Lodge, and

 

Committee on Public Safety

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, absent such a resignation, we, the City Council ofthe City of Chicago, call upon the Board of Directors of Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police to request as a body the resignation of John Catanzara from his position as President ofthe Lodge, and his membership in that Lodge, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that absent any such resignation, we, the City Council ofthe City of Chicago, call upon the Chicago Police Department's Bureau of Internal Affairs to investigate John Catanzara's actions and their discredit to the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department.

 

 

 

 

Andre Vasquez, Jr.

 

 

 

Co-Sponsors

 

Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid.

 

Daniel La Spata, 1st Ward

Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward

Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward

Sophia King 4th Ward

Leslie Hairston, 5th

Roderick Sawyer, 6th Ward

Greg Mitchell, 7th Ward

Michelle Harris, 8th Ward

Susan Sadlowski-Garza, 10th Ward

George Cardenas, 12th Ward

Stephanie Coleman, 16th Ward

David Moore, 17th Ward

Derrick Curtis, 18th Ward Jeanette Taylor, 20th Ward

Howard Brookins, 21st Ward Michael D. Rodriguez , 22nd Ward Michael Scott, 24th Ward Byron Slgcho Lopez, 25th Ward Roberto Maldonado, 26th Ward

 

Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. Aid. City

 

Walter Burnett, 27th Ward

Chris Taliaferro, 29th Ward

Felix Cardona Jr., 31st Ward

Scott Waguespack, 32nd Ward

Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd Ward

Carrie Austin, 34th Ward

Carlos Ramirez Rosa, 35th Ward

Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward

Emma Mitts, 37th Ward

Andre Vasquez, 40th Ward

Brendan Reilly, 42nd Ward

Michele Smith, 43rd Ward

Tom Tunney, 44th Ward

James Cappleman, 46th Ward

Matt Martin, 47th Ward

Harry Osterman, 48th Ward

Maria Hadden, 49th Ward

Deb Silverstein, 50th Ward

Clerk Anna Valencia, Chicago