CHATHAM — Business leaders, community leaders and residents joined together Thursday to announce their support for Interim Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson.
Residents and group leaders from five neighborhoods held a news conference, along with Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), at Josephine’s Cooking, 436 E. 79th St. Johnson was supposed to meet with them, but had a meeting with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and had to cancel, Greater Chatham Alliance President Richard Wooten said.
Before the news conference, the group agreed that the way Johnson was selected for the job was wrong, but they nevertheless were pleased with the outcome. Emanuel had picked Johnson after rejecting the three finalists for the job chosen by the Police Board.
They said Johnson proved himself worthy of the job even before Emanuel’s appointment. As commander of the Auburn Gresham Police District, Johnson was always accessible to community members and built strong relationships with them, they said.
“They selected the right person as far as I’m concerned,” said Carl Lewis, Brown Park Advisory Board president, adding that Johnson has always been both open and accessible to the community. “He changed the whole culture in the 6th District. I haven’t had a police commander I’ve trusted before.”
Wooten shared with the group that he and a few other ministers met with Johnson a few days ago to discuss a recent statement Johnson made about not having witnessed any corruption.
From that discussion, Wooten said that Johnson made clear what he meant and that the group is still in full support of him being superintendent. They hope to make it permanent, he said.
Sawyer said he knows Johnson well and that he’s a “no nonsense guy, direct, tough on crime and engages with the community.”
Even though Johnson hasn’t officially applied yet for the position, Sawyer said he believes he’ll do it soon. He also speculates that other candidates will withdraw their applications. Because of Johnson’s track record and respect among rank-and-file officers, Sawyer said he’s a great choice.
“We need someone who can hit the ground running,” he said. “We need somebody like this.”
The focus right now needs to be on reducing crime and building up community/police trust again, Wooten said.
“We are a city that’s hurting right now,” he said.
Community leaders are working to host a “Justice Townhall Meeting,” with Johnson in attendance. Wooten said it’s important that Johnson knows he has the community’s support, plus they want to give residents an opportunity to work with him.
“He can’t do this alone,” he said. “It’s going to take all of us and the rest of the community.”
Some ideas and concerns that would be presented to Johnson in that meeting would be more patrol officers walking the beat.
“That visibility is important” said West Chesterfield President Michael Lafargue.
Wooten would like to see more police presence along Cottage Grove Avenue in Chatham. He said it’s important to have more beat officers because it strengthens the relationship between police and the community.
Although Johnson’s fiancee was named in an investigation into alleged cheating on the department's lieutenant's exam, that doesn’t change how the community feels about about Johnson, the leaders said.
“We can’t keep dwelling in the past,” Wooten said. “We need to move forward.”
“We do not care, he didn’t do the act” said Josephine Wade, the restaurant’s owner.
They said they want to see him use the model he used in the Gresham District across the city, which helped reduce crime.
“He will be a fantastic superintendent,” said Worthetta Evans, a member of the Chesterfield Community Council. “I think that if we give him a chance, he will do a much better job than what we have seen in the past in the city.”
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