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* January of 2018…
In September, Chicago Police Officer John Catanzara made headlines after posting on Facebook a picture of himself, in uniform, holding an American flag and a homemade sign that read, “I stand for the anthem. I love the American flag. I support my president and the 2nd Amendment.”
He was reprimanded for violating rules that prohibit officers from making political statements while on duty. But if that discipline was intended to change his ways on social media, Catanzara instead is living up to the words he uses to describe himself on Facebook: “A give no f#$%s, say it like it is man.”
Since he was disciplined last fall, the veteran officer has remained outspoken and defiant, posting inflammatory material about women, welfare recipients and those who disagree with his politics.
He has tangled with Facebook users who question him. “Keep listening for that knock on the door,” he responded to one critic.
And, more than once, he has boasted that he will continue to avoid serious punishment. Police superintendents have twice tried to fire him, though he appealed the efforts and won.
“The police dept didn’t and CAN’T fire me,” he wrote last fall, after the flag post went viral.
* Saturday…
Rank-and-file Chicago police officers have chosen John Catanzara as the new president of their union for the next three years, replacing incumbent Kevin Graham in a runoff election. […]
Graham assumed union leadership three years ago after beating former President Dean Angelo Sr. in another runoff. Graham and Catanzara were two of five candidates running in the general election in March.
Graham’s time in FOP leadership has been hallmarked by his criticism of the Chicago Police Department’s reform efforts and consent decree, which were spurred by the release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video and subsequent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. […]
Catanzara was stripped of his police powers and assigned to administrative duty for filing a police report against now-fired police Supt. Eddie Johnson after Johnson marched arm-in-arm with the Rev. Michael Pfleger on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
* Tribune…
In August 2008, then-Superintendent Jody Weis sought Catanzara’s firing on allegations that he did not follow orders to complete a psychological exam, according to Chicago Police Board records. But in February 2009, the board cleared Catanzara in a 5-3 decision.
Three years later, then-Superintendent Garry McCarthy tried to fire him for working a side job as a security guard for a restaurant when he was supposed to be on medical leave for a back injury.
The Police Board found him guilty in that case of several Police Department violations, board records show. But instead of firing him, the board voted 7-2 to suspend Catanzara for 20 days.
The department in 2017 issued Catanzara a reprimand — among the lightest punishments a Chicago cop can face — for violating rules that prohibit officers from participating in any partisan political campaign or activity while on duty.
* CBS 2…
• He was once suspended for 30 days following an investigation into allegations of domestic abuse in 2003.
• He was reprimanded following an investigation into an allegation of excessive force in 2003.
• He was suspended for six days following an investigation into allegations of conduct unbecoming an officer by associating with a felon while off-duty in 2003.
• He was suspended for 20 days following an investigation into allegations of conduct unbecoming by associating with a felon while off-duty in 2004.
• He was suspended for 10 days for insubordination in 2005.
• He was suspended for 15 days following an investigation into an allegation of a personnel violation at an Old Town tavern in 2007.
• He was suspended for 20 days after the Chicago Police Board found him guilty of violating department rules by working as a private security guard while on medical leave for a back injury in 2008. Supt. Garry McCarthy had sought to fire him.
• He was suspended for 10 days following an investigation into miscellaneous personnel violations in 2013.
* WTTW…
In his 25 years on the force, Catanzara has received no major awards, but six honorable mentions – more than 55% of officers. But according to the Citizens Police Data Project, he has also been the subject of 50 allegations — more than 96% of Chicago police officers.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:21 pm
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Comment by NotRich Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:23 pm
A good reminder that police unions are organized labor’s funhouse mirror. Every time the CPD gets caught up in illegal behavior and misconduct, their response is, “We need to elect a bigger jerk who will be louder in demanding our right to engage in illegal behavior and misconduct.” When the rank-and-file tell you who they are with their ballots, believe them.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:27 pm
When Chicago’s rank-and-file police officers tell you who they are, believe them.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:30 pm
And police wonder why their community support is lacking. It’s one thing to have a “bad apple”, but for the police electing him union president make them all bad apples
Comment by VerySmallRocks Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:31 pm
Proof you can fail upwards
The CFOP is a sad, scary, caricature
Comment by Nick Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:31 pm
It takes alot to make Kevin Graham and Martin Prieb seem like bleeding heart moderates, but he went ahead and found a way.
FOP’s member messaging is sounding more and more like a mountain militia than a law-and-order police union. I keep seeing members post cryptic “get ready” comments and other rebellious-sounding messages, combined with that quote about expecting a knock on your front door.
How this might backfire: The DSA crowd in Chicago have been trying very hard to push the “Lightfoot is a cop” messaging since she became a high-profile figure. Giving her a comical, Trumpian figure to butt heads against in contract negotiations (which have nowhere to go but down now) will give her credibility as someone who can stand up against a rogue police union.
Rant over…
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:32 pm
Trump stripped union rights for every public employee in a full union state and this guy supports him. That right there says more than I need to know about him. This Judas has absolutely no business being a union president.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:35 pm
==It’s one thing to have a “bad apple”, but for the police electing him union president make them all bad apples==
The rhetorical trick at play is to claim police misconduct is merely the action of a “bad apple,” but then erupt in outrage if someone dare suggest the bad apple be removed from the barrel it threatens to rot.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:35 pm
Who wants to set u a betting pool on how long it will take the new Superintendent to get a vote of no confidence…and how meaningless that will be.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:36 pm
I was pretty sure that Kevin Graham was about as low as FOP could go, then I learned about Catanzara. Graham looks like an altar boy in comparison.
Is there any hope for the FOP or should the city move to decertify it?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:40 pm
Although I completely agree with the sentiment of Roadrager and misterjayem, what does that say about us as a nation in our national election?
Comment by Robert Lincoln Monday, May 11, 20 @ 12:55 pm
Apparently it’s the barrel, not just an apple.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:07 pm
===he has also been the subject of 50 allegations===
Well that’s nice.
Comment by Boone's is Back Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:11 pm
Dis guyz recort reads like he’s trying to get cast in a Richard Wolf TV show as the antee-hero.
He comes across not as a simple iconoclast with a code of honor, but as a bully and miscreant who has sheltered behind a good-old-boys-will-be-boys network in the Department. Not the look they need.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:19 pm
“Is there any hope for the FOP or should the city move to decertify it?”
The problem is with the electorate that voted for this clown. It’s so deeply, deeply disturbing in what this says about the rank and file who voted for him.
I recently had a Chicago Detective friend of mine start explaining with absolutely sincerity all of the insane conspiracy nuttiness about Corona, starting with the fact that this is all a government conspiracy to kill the old people so they save money on medicaid and pensions. And I like this guy, but he probably voted for this dude. Scary times ahead.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:24 pm
I’m not so sure about the “rank and file” electing him. I recall reading an article about the election (that I am unable to find now) that indicated FOP retirees get to vote and Catanzara worked the retiree voters to get elected. Does anyone else recall seeing that or know if it is true? That seems a bit odd since retirees would have different interests than the rank and file.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:27 pm
I my union voted for a piece of work like Catanzara, I would stop paying dues til he was out.
Comment by Generic Drone Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:32 pm
Very telling that this guy is who Chicago police feel is representative of what they’re about
Comment by In 630 Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:34 pm
Original Rambler- I read that in Politico Illinois. They said Catanzara worked Florida and Arizona retirees hard. Which begs the question- what do the current rank and file have to do to get out from under the Second City Cop knuckle draggers?
Comment by West Sider Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:41 pm
Makes you wonder where the members stand on a lot of issues. This does not bode well for policing going forward.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:42 pm
It’s hard to see how this guy ends a contract dispute with the city that has gone on for 2 years.
Comment by MG85 Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:43 pm
“They said Catanzara worked Florida and Arizona retirees hard”
That’s disturbing that they still have a vote in this…
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, May 11, 20 @ 1:51 pm
Yet the great Orange One twits out that this is a great guy. Typical.
Comment by Lt Guv Monday, May 11, 20 @ 2:28 pm
“It’s hard to see how this guy ends a contract dispute with the city that has gone on for 2 years.“
Actually, it’s been three years.
I love the men and women of the CPD. They have an impossible job. But this guy should not have been elected. He can’t speak and is a total hothead who should have been fired years ago.
Friends on the force who have worked along side him say he is the worst of the worst.
Sad times we are living in.
Comment by Blue Beard Monday, May 11, 20 @ 2:34 pm
~30% of the voting membership is retirees, many of whom are no longer in or care about the City. Some do however enjoy a good debacle & are happy to abet it. This leadership will not help the rank & file to whom it’s an embarrassment.
Comment by in the no Monday, May 11, 20 @ 2:35 pm
Retirees seem to hold a lot of sway in Chicago FOP elections.
I remember hearing that wooing retirees was key to Graham’s victory three years ago and to his predecessor, Dean Angelo, three years prior to that. (Chicago FOP members change presidents as often as they change socks.)
The retirees obviously get a kick out of electing the biggest bomb thrower every three years. Can’t wait to see the kook who beats Cantanzara in 2023.
Comment by Who’s next? Monday, May 11, 20 @ 2:55 pm
There is something to the concept that retirees and their attitudes are to blame for this guy.
I have recently come to believe that retired cops are susceptible to being radicalized after they separate from the department. If asked before I would have guessed the opposite would be true but I have heard some truly whackadoodle stuff come out of the mouths of guys I respected in the past.
Comment by Winderweezle Monday, May 11, 20 @ 4:01 pm
Hatch act? How can he run for a partisan office while being employed by government agency that gets federal funding. He needs to step away from his job or withdraw, MI->?
Comment by Gdubya Monday, May 11, 20 @ 4:36 pm
A silver lining: a dirty cop is off the streets. Catanzara’s no longer Chicago’s problem, he’s FOP’s problem.
Catanzara will be a weak negotiator for the FOP. He doesn’t seem to have the qualities that a good negotiator has: intelligence, pragmatism, level headedness, ability to give and take.
Even more tragic for the rank and file police officers, his history proves that he will throw the police force under the bus when he personally will benefit. He proved that when he worked for himself on several occasions on police department time, and when he promoted his person ideology in the police uniform. The views of his coworkers don’t matter.
It would be very easy for Chicago negotiators to throw some perks his way and get him to betray his fellow officers.I hope they refrain from the temptation.
Comment by 17% Solution Tuesday, May 12, 20 @ 8:52 am