Former Chicago police superintendent: Policing 'entirely under attack'
Garry McCarthy weighs in on the rushed sendoff of fallen officer Ella French on 'The Story.'
The sendoff of fallen Chicago police Officer Ella French was reportedly rushed by the department’s No. 2 official – and former Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy argued it reflected a nationwide lack of support for police officers from government leaders.
"The officers here in CPD and probably across the country … feel under attack by politicians and the public," McCarthy said Wednesday during an appearance on Fox News' "The Story." "Most of them feel like they’re not being supported by their leadership."
"We’re not waiting on the bagpipes" because "we don’t have 20 minutes for this s---," Chicago First Deputy Police Supt. Eric Carter, the department's second in command, reportedly told officers who were conducting the Saturday night sendoff for French, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot reportedly backed Carter's decision after initially insisting during a news conference that the reports about Carter were false. The mayor reportedly claimed there was no honor guard present during the ceremony and that a group of well-meaning people planned to hijack the procession.
McCarthy told "The Story" he was "not sure" Carter’s call was necessary at all.
"It’s so important, the sacred nature of rituals, certainly within policing," McCarthy said. "If there’s an excuse for what happened, then maybe, you know, Eric should talk about it publicly himself. … I think it’s all damage control at this point."
McCarthy pointed out that the superintendent also called French by the wrong name, further discouraging the police rank-and-file. It’s also been reported, according to McCarthy, that the officers did not draw their weapons as traditionally practiced.
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"That’s probably the result of a policy that was put in place for every time you draw your weapon, you have to do a report about it," he concluded. "Policing is entirely under attack, and that’s why we have a 100% increase in the murder rate."
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