Bring Eddie Johnson back to CPD
The mayor-elect needs a proven leader
One word to describe the former Chicago Police Department (CPD) Superintendent Eddie Johnson is disgraced. Four years after his fall from grace the common association with his name is he was fired by Mayor Lori Lightfoot for lying about the circumstances of him being found asleep inside of his parked police SUV. At least that is the story the public has been given.
Johnson also admitted to a tryst with a female member of his security detail. No one, even Johnson, will excuse his poor judgment and lack of control. And that is a major part of the reason Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson should bring Johnson back to the CPD-as the superintendent on an interim basis. Johnson publicly laid bare what assumedly was the most embarrassing moments of his life. There is ironic integrity in that.
Eric Carter, the current interim superintendent, announced last week he will retire on May 15, the day Brandon Johnson is sworn in as mayor. There is a list of names as long as the number of candidates who ran for mayor in February election to replace Carter. Eddie Johnson’s name is among them and for good reason.
Eddie Johnson was never accused of being a bad cop during his 31 years on the force. After he ascended to the top cop position, he was viewed as a cop’s cop-something good for the morale of the department., when he was appointed interim superintendent in 2016. The Chicago Police Board recommended three other candidates to then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, but the mayor leapfrogged the list and named Eddie Johnson. Less than a month later, he was made whole when the Chicago City Council unanimously approved the selection. A 50-0 vote-how often does that happen?
With the warm weather about to begin and predictions of disruptive incidents in several parts of the city, Brandon Johnson can’t afford to go one day without an experienced leader at the helm of CPD. Eddie Johnson, during his three and one-half years as superintendent dealt with bands of youth marauding and wreaking havoc downtown and on the South Side, as well as a host of other problems that still plague the city. He has also already worked with much of the command staff.
Of course, the morality question will be with him if he is selected. His tainted background is all the more reason to bring him back to the department. His past has been widely reported; he has accepted responsibility for his misdeeds. That clearly means it can’t be used against him or the mayor.
We have former U.S. presidents we hold in the highest esteem-men who we learned were not completely faithful to their wives. God only knows how many elected officials and some of their appointees have been less than forthright about the goings on in their lives.
Besides, once in office, Brandon Johnson will have the chance to select a permanent superintendent. Now, however, it would be a smart move to put Eddie Johnson in the interim slot.