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Top Cop Asks For Investigation Into Fiancee After Son Was Stopped By Police

By Heather Cherone | January 31, 2017 1:06pm
 Lt. Nakia Fenner and interim Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, Fenner's fiancee, at a Chicago Police Department promotion ceremony.
Lt. Nakia Fenner and interim Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, Fenner's fiancee, at a Chicago Police Department promotion ceremony.
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DNAinfo/Kelly Bauer

CHICAGO — Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson Tuesday asked Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson to investigate the handling of a traffic offense involving the son of his fiancee, a Chicago police lieutenant.

The probe will determine whether the top cop's fiancee, Lt. Nakia Fenner, acted inappropriately after her son was stopped on suspicion of a traffic offense, officials said. No other details about the alleged incident were available.

Chicago police officials became aware of the incident Monday morning, and an internal investigation was opened, said department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

However, because Johnson "is committed to the highest levels of integrity and professional standards for every member of the Chicago Police Department" he asked that the probe be turned over to the inspector general's office, Guglielmi said.

Ferguson's office will conduct "an independent investigation into the facts to avoid any perception of impropriety," Guglielmi said.

Rachel Leven, a spokeswoman for Ferguson, said his office would review the information provided by the police department "in accordance with our procedure when we receive any complaint or referral."

Ferguson is also investigating whether Fenner was one of three police lieutenants who cheated on the August 2015 promotion exam, according to the Department of Justice's investigation into the Chicago Police Department.

The city watchdog's investigation — based on claims first reported by DNAinfo in April — focuses on allegations that now-retired Chicago Deputy Police Supt. Eugene Williams shared privileged information in a study group about the most recent test used to promote sergeants to lieutenants.

That study group included a number of people, including Lt. Maryet Hall, who is married to former First Deputy Police Supt. Al Wysinger, who was the department's No. 2 cop until he retired in 2015; Lt. Nakia Fenner, Supt. Eddie Johnson's fianceé; and Lt. Davina Ward, according to documents obtained by DNAinfo.