Chicago Cop Under Investigation Again Over Social Media Posts
Analysis of the social media and misconduct complaints of John Catanzara reveals a history of offensive actions all the same petty accountability.
[Content Warning: the timeline portion of this article discusses and includes statements from Catanzara relating to constabulary misconduct, racism, sexism, xenophobia, sexual assault, Islamaphobia, and transphobia.]
John Catanzara, the current president of Chicago's police union, has been an officer for the Chicago Police Section since January 1995. Catanzara has been suspended from the CPD and stripped of pay since February 2021 while he is under investigative review for allegedly falsifying law reports. Additionally, COPA has recommended his firing for a slew of racist and offensive social media posts. Despite his potential firing, the Fraternal Society of Constabulary's constitution may still let him to hold the role of president, as WBEZ reported. However, given that Catanzara is still even a member despite his violation of multiple membership requirements it is unclear if constitutionality is an result to the FOP. Beneath we offer an analysis of 23 years of complaints against Catanzara and a timeline of his inflammatory social media posts and other notable events throughout his career.
From an analysis of misconduct complaints against Catanzara from 1995 to 2018, nosotros accept plant a sheer volume of allegations that are admittedly inappropriate for any person who holds a position of power in the CPD. Of the 26 years Catanzara has been an officer, at that place have been only 6 years in which he received no complaints. The most complaints he has received in a single year is vii in 2003. He has been named in l misconduct complaints total and has been suspended 8 times for a total of 131 days. This excludes his current suspension of 153 days and counting. Co-ordinate to the Invisible Institute'southward Citizens Police force Data Projection, Catanzara has more than complaints per year of service than 96% of his beau CPD officers.
Methods:
To analyze the 50 total complaints aimed at Catanzara over a 23-yr span, the Chicago Justice Projection used data from the Invisible Institute's Citizens Police Information Project which comes primarily from information provided by the City of Chicago in response to litigation, Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and other publicly bachelor data. Their data spans from 1988 to 2018 although our analysis uses information on complaints from 1995-2018 given that Catanzara started as an officer in 1995. While the Invisible Found has data of complaints on every CPD officeholder, we chose to focus solely on Catanzara given his immense power over policing in Chicago and his current pause. Additionally, data uncovered through CJP's FOIA requests allowed for expansion and increased detail.
The following information almost each complaint was collected:
- Complaint filed by officer or noncombatant
- Type of complaint
- Engagement of incident
- Recommended finding (by COPA or BIA)
- Final finding (By Police Board)
- Recommended outcome (by COPA or BIA)
- Final outcome (By Law Board)
Our assay begins with an overview of complaints against Catanzara per year. Then we compare the recommended finding of the complaints versus the final findings. These findings are categorized into the post-obit categories: sustained, not sustained, exonerated, unfounded, and unknown. Definitions are provided co-ordinate to COPA beneath:
- Sustained: the allegation was supported by sufficient evidence to justify disciplinary action
- Not sustained: the allegation is not supported by sufficient evidence which could be used to show or disprove the accusation
- Exonerated: the incident occurred, simply the action taken by the officer(s) was deemed lawful and proper.
- Unfounded: the allegation was not based on the facts revealed through investigation, or the reported incident did not occur.
- Unknown: there was a lack of available information on the outcome (no affirmation) or COPA, BIA, or the Police Board have not yet made a conclusion.
Additionally, while data on complaints is the best electric current mensurate of misconduct by Catanzara the actual corporeality of misconduct likely differs. Many civilians who feel or recognize misconduct do non file a complaint or do not know most the complaint process at all. This may mean that the post-obit analysis is an underrepresentation of bodily misconduct.
Misconduct Complaints of Catanzara:
We aim to shed low-cal on the huge number of complaints against Catanzara over his career as a CPD officeholder. Information technology is particularly important to understand the background of CPD officers in positions of power considering the Urban center of Chicago and FOP have fought to keep these misconduct records out of the public heart.
Catanzara has been named in a full of 50 complaints in a 23-year span. Every bit figure 1 shows, Catanzara has received complaints consistently throughout his career, averaging a fiddling above 2 per yr. The virtually complaints he has received in a single year is 7 (2003) and the least is 0 (1995, 1998, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012).
The most frequent complaints against Catanzara are operational/personnel violations (xvi total), behave unbecoming (10), employ of forcefulness (8), and verbal corruption (7). This BIA Incident Category Table provides elaboration on these categories of complaints. Although all the verbal abuse complaints were somewhen not sustained, over one-half were related to sexual orientation or race/ethnicity. Additionally, all ten complaints under the conduct unbecoming category involved association with a felon. Catanzara was only disciplined twice for this despite the design. Lastly, 5 of 8 apply of forcefulness complaints were related to excessive force. Catanzara was only disciplined with a reprimand once and with a twenty-solar day suspension fifty-fifty though termination was recommended (now these recommendations are done by COPA).
As figures 2 and 3 betoken, of the fifty total complaints only 10 were ultimately sustained, although COPA or BIA recommended 12 be sustained. Additionally, fifty-fifty when complaints were sustained, the bodily disciplinary action taken was often less serious than the recommended disciplinary outcome. Of the x sustained complaints, Catanzara was not disciplined for one complaint of neglect of duty under the category operational/personnel violations. Although termination was recommended for Catanzara twice in 2008, he got off with xx-mean solar day suspensions both times. Both of these cases are detailed further in the timeline segment.
Social Media History of Catanzara:
Catanzara is potentially facing termination for a serial of inflammatory posts on social media dating dorsum to 2016. Although COPA has recommended termination, we await the full Law Board's determination for the final outcome. For now, we can review these posts and other important events in Catanzara'southward history equally an officer. The posts that are under review in the current investigation are noted in the timeline.
These social media posts show a pattern of disrespect of authority despite Catanzara's role equally an authorization figure in the FOP. Equally an officer, Catanzara wants residents of Chicago to obey the laws and rules when he and other officers are the ones in charge of enforcing them. However, he repeatedly breaks the rules of the department, specially when he disagrees with other officers.
It is of import to annotation that this is an incomplete record of Catanzara's posts. Many of these screenshots were collected every bit the posts were originally fabricated and have since been altered, deleted, or shielded from public view.
January 15, 2008 – March fifteen, 2013:
The Superintendent of Police recommended firing Catanzara over making a faux report, failing to follow medical curlicue procedures, disobedience of orders, and other violations of rules of carry. Although the Police Lath found Catanzara guilty of all charges he received a twenty-day suspension instead of termination. The ii members who voted for his termination write in their dissent, "We notice the Respondent guilty of all charges and, based on the serious and intentional nature of the Respondent'southward misconduct, his self-serving imitation statements and testimony nether adjuration, we vote to club that he be discharged from his position as a police force officeholder."
June fourteen, 2008 – May viii, 2014:
The Superintendent of Police recommended firing Catanzara over his defiance of orders and deportment which impede the CPD's efforts to attain their policy goals. With a slim majority, five of 9 members of the Police Board voted to allow Catanzara to receive a 20-day suspension instead of termination.
November 22, 2016 – three violations
On Facebook, Catanzara posted a link to an article reporting the shooting of an officer and advocated that those responsible ought to be killed. He used offensive language, writing, "WTF it is seriously time to kill these grand*****f******." This post may exist considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, and half-dozen of the Police Department's Rules of Conduct in the ongoing investigation.
November 25, 2016 – four violations
Catanzara made a argument on Facebook that encouraged other Department members to finish chasing offenders. This mail may be considered in violation of Rules 2, three, 6, and 53 in the ongoing investigation.
December 1, 2016 – 3 violations
Officer Catanzara shared a moving picture on Facebook that was disrespectful to public do good recipients. This postal service may be considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, and 6 in the ongoing investigation.
January 22, 2017 – 4 violations
Catanzara made an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a fellow member of the public past stating, "Is it too tardily to abort thekla (sic)…the stupidity of some humans similar her but prove the saying…the best function dripped down her moms (sic) leg." This mail may be considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8 in the ongoing investigation.
Jan thirty, 2017 – three violations
Catanzara made a mail to Facebook which read, "Savages they all deserve a bullet" in reference to a video of a woman beingness stoned to death. The mail further stated, "This is the reason MANY Americans are leary of a large segment of Muslim's especially those who support Sharia police… This is the life many desire to bring to this country." This biased argument against Muslims is being considered for violation of Rules 2, three, and 6 in the ongoing investigation.
January thirty, 2017 – one violation
Catanzara attempted to influence others' actions about a not-police matter by referencing his official position equally a Chicago Police Officer. This post is being considered for violation of Rule 4 in the ongoing investigation.
November 16, 2017 – 4 violations
Catanzara directed a threat to a member of the public on Facebook by stating, "Ok loser now that you attack people on my page you lot will be blocked. Keep listening for that knock on the door." This post may exist considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8 in the ongoing investigation.
November 16, 2017 – 4 violations
Officeholder Catanzara made an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public past stating, "Blow me. Y'all know you desire to." This post may exist considered in violation of Rules ii, 3, vi, and eight in the ongoing investigation.
October 15, 2017 – 4 violations
Catanzara posted a argument on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD direction by calling superior officers "spineless." This post may be considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, half dozen, and eight in the ongoing investigation.
October 15, 2017 – 4 violations
Catanzara made an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public past stating, "Steve would yous like to make a bet that you and your pathetic friends attempts to get any results will be equally useless equally the piffling bit of pare you have in your pants? I'll even requite y'all odds!" This post may be considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and viii in the ongoing investigation.
October xv, 2017 – 4 violations
Catanzara made an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public. He stated, "You're making me go pretty thick to (sic) Steve I dear y'all and then much." This mail service may exist considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8 in the ongoing investigation.
October 18, 2017 – 4 violations
Catanzara fabricated an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public by stating, "Lmao…Aye join information technology and then you can all group spank it together…" This postal service may be considered in violation of Rules 2, 3, half dozen, and viii in the ongoing investigation.
December 27, 2017
A Facebook post of Catanzara in uniform, holding an American flag and a homemade sign that read, "I represent the anthem. I love the American flag. I support my president and the second Amendment," went viral. He was reprimanded for violating rules that prohibit officers from making political statements while on duty. This mail is likewise beingness considered in his ongoing investigation for violation of Rules half dozen and 42.
Jan 29, 2018 – 4 violations
Catanzara described his penalization for violating established rules by posting the previous image every bit intending to "corking" him into silence. He also fabricated fun of his superiors and peers, labeling them as "sad little people". Lastly, he alleges that those reporting on his history of misconduct are attempting to smear him as a racist. This disrespectful postal service may exist considered to violate Rules 2, 3,six, and 32 in the ongoing investigation.
Feb iii, 2018 – 4 violations
Catanzara posted a statement on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD management. This post may exist considered in violation of Rules two, 3, 6, and 32 in the ongoing investigation.
February 3, 2018 – 4 violations
Catanzara posted a second statement on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD direction. This post may be considered in violation of Rules two, 3, half-dozen, and 32 in the ongoing investigation.
February eight, 2018
Catanzara shared a xenophobic mail service on Facebook that questions if Nancy Pelosi is on the side of American citizens or undocumented immigrants. This offensive post suggests that immigrants are tearing and unworthy of rights.
April thirty, 2018
In some other xenophobic Facebook post, Catanzara challenges the motivations of aviary-seeking immigrants, implying that they are criminals. He likewise suggests that asylum seekers ought to exist kept at the edge until he tin can "turn their asses around."
July seven, 2018
In this disrespectful Facebook post, Catanzara expresses acrimony at Leo Schmitz, the director of Illinois land police at the time and now Cook County's Master of Public Safety, for greenlighting an anti-violence protest on the Dan Ryan Freeway. Referring to those involved in the anti-violence march he writes, "the inmates are at present running the asylum."
July 12, 2018
In the disrespectful Facebook post below, Catanzara makes fun of the aims of the anti-violence march on the Dan Ryan Motorway of supporting re-investment in urban America and remembering those who have been injured or killed at the easily of gun violence. He sarcastically writes that the march was "and so successful" with a link to a weekly study on shootings in Chicago.
August 27, 2018
Catanzara made an offensive post to Facebook in support of racist stereotypes of black and criminality with nonsensical percentages of crime in the U.S.
August 31, 2018
While the CPD prepared for another protest occurring on Labor Day of 2018, Catanzara complains that heads of the CPD and Illinois State Police (ISP) did not handle the anti-violence march on the Dan Ryan Superhighway with enough arrests. Further, he alleges that the CPD's Superintendent, District Commander, and Manager of the ISP took illegal actions by allowing for the anti-violence protestation and sought to scrub reports and hide evidence of their illegality.
October three, 2018
In this offensive mail service, Catanzara questions the validity of the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, a survivor of sexual attack. The post refers to Senator Dianne Feinstein every bit a "bitch" and implies she is forcing Ford to give false testimony.
Oct 10, 2018
Catanzara shared a biased facebook post implying that people in particular neighborhoods are inherently criminal and murderous. The mail service reads, "if we actually wanted you dead all we'd take to exercise is terminate patrolling your neighborhoods and wait."
October 29, 2018
Catanzara advocates for CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson's removal over his allowance of the anti-violence march on the Dan Ryan Throughway. The post reads, "Will Eddie Johnson become marching down the same stretch again today? Doubtful! He needs to go!"
December 26, 2018
With news of the cancellation of the 2019 Women's March in Chicago, Catanzara writes that this is because the 2018 Women's March was a "HHHUGE failure" with a low turnout. According to media coverage of the upshot, effectually 300,000 attended in 2018.
August ten, 2019
Referring to the 2018 anti-violence march on the Dan Ryan Expressway, Catanzara writes that Eddie Johnson was "fine with blocking off an throughway for his friends, stopping traffic, violating country and federal laws". He further alleges that Johnson is the "worst kind of hypocrite" for investigating a CPD officer who abused his powers to escort Hulk Hogan in the front seat of a squad automobile onto the tarmac of O'Hare airport.
August xix, 2019
In Catanzara's transphobic post below, a person is shown to exist injured at the hands of a police officer and is also the target of a joke by officers. The offensive mail service reads, "when you lot get shot in the groin by a rubber bullet and your fabricated-upwards gender doesn't protect your willie."
October 4, 2019
Although Catanzara claims he is non xenophobic in the post beneath, the mail itself contains a vast generalization of Muslims as violent and "murderous". It also suggests that converting to Islam causes terrorism and violence.
October 8, 2019
Catanzara posted a meme that is disrespectful to members of public role.
October xviii, 2019
In the Facebook post beneath, Catanzara describes this person who supports Chicago schoolhouse employees as someone who hates the U.S. because they speak Spanish. His statement reads, "they hate this country so much they wont even use ENGLISH!!!!"
October twenty, 2019
In this Facebook mail service, Catanzara makes fun of women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual harassment and sexual set on. He comments on a quote past Chelsea Clinton with crass and sexist references to sexual activity acts. His statement reads, "I guess it wasn't the state your dad wanted his kids to grow up in either, and then he had Monica eat them! Likewise bad Paula jones didn't eat her!"
October 24, 2019
Catanzara dismisses a report on racist terminate and frisk practices by the CPD as "stupid" in the post beneath. Instead, he argues that black pedestrians ought to be targeted more than because they are doing more crimes.
November seven, 2019
In the post below, Catanzara advocates for CPD officers to "create a nightmare heard circular the country." He wants them to shut downwardly the Dan Ryan Throughway and Lake Shore Drive to gain an upper manus in ongoing negotiations over a new constabulary contract. This post encourages officers to abandon their duties
Dec 9, 2019
In this offensive and insensitive Facebook post, Catanzara calls musical artist Juice WRLD a "bonehead" subsequently he had died of an opioid-related overdose.
May viii, 2020
Catanzara was elected as president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge seven, Chicago'southward constabulary union.
May 10, 2020
Catanzara posted a screenshot of a tweet by Donald Trump. Both seem excited to have support from i another.
June 6, 2020
In the Facebook post beneath, Catanzara responds to protests following the murder of George Floyd on Chicago's South Side. Catanzara states that people ought to "stop blaming a system" for limited economic development in particular neighborhoods and "starting time blaming the criminals and families that wait the other way."
June eleven, 2020
Catanzara threatened discipline and matrimony expulsion for whatsoever officer who took a knee in solidarity with those protesting police violence. When pressed on this contradiction with his political posts made in compatible he responded, "My mail service was patriotic support of all things American. If people cannot see the difference between kneeling in support of voices saying the police are the problem in order and should be defunded or even abolished, then in that location really is no reason to continue any dialog. Information technology'southward an apple tree and automobile comparison."
June 28, 2020
In an interview with Fox's Eric Shawn, Catanzara blamed parents and lack of time spent in jail for gun violence. Referring to kids in minority communities he said, "There is a segment of our population inside Chicago, and I'thousand highlighting Chicago specifically here, who absolutely want to just rob, steal, kill, shoot, all mean solar day long. That'south all they wake upwardly doing all day long." He argues that people ought to start, "holding a little flake more shame and accountability for the parents who are raising these kids, or not raising them specifically" because these tendencies "offset in the home." Find the video of this interview here.
December 17, 2020
In response to COPA'south recommendation to fire Catanzara over his past social media posts, he fabricated the following statement on Facebook. With a screenshot of the FOP'south constitution, Catanzara writes that he will not exist gotten "rid of" so hands. He as well alleges that the city's law department has been "covering up for the mayor."
January vii, 2021
A day after it occurred, Catanzara downplayed the insurrection of the U.Due south. Capitol building in an interview. He said, "at that place'due south no, obviously, violence in this crowd," despite four dead and numerous others injured, including boyfriend law officers. Sympathizing with those that stormed the capitol he continued, "it was a bunch of pissed-off people that feel an election was stolen, somehow, some way."
January xi, 2021
36 alderpersons support a resolution calling for the Fraternal Society of Law to request Catanzara to resign equally president.
February 10, 2021
Catanzara was suspended without pay from the constabulary for allegedly falsifying police reports. He remains the president of the Fraternal Order of Constabulary despite his ongoing suspension. His current charges are detailed here.
Source: https://chicagojustice.org/2021/07/13/john-catanzara-misconduct-social-media/
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