Chicago Police Union Head to Retire, Cites 'Farce' of COVID Disciplinary Hearing

John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 in Chicago, officially submitted his paperwork for retirement from the police department on Tuesday, saying he would rather retire and leave the force than go through with a "farce" of a COVID disciplinary hearing.

Catanzara, the head of Chicago's largest police union, said he would remain president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 and that he plans to run for mayor against incumbent Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Catanzara is currently undergoing a hearing with the Chicago Police Board centered on alleged actions and online statements he made, such as comparing the city's vaccine mandate to Nazi Germany, calling Muslims "savages (who) deserve a bullet," and appearing in police uniform to promote former President Donald Trump.

Catanzara said he did not believe he would get a fair hearing and would likely be fired after the hearings, as was recommended by Police Superintendent David Brown, but instead resigned from his position saying he did not want to give Lightfoot that satisfaction.

"I will have my vindication when I tell her to get the hell out of my office and give me the keys in 2023," he told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Catanzara and Lightfoot have battled against each other over numerous issues—most recently, Catanzara's call for his officers to refuse Lightfoot's order to inform the department of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

According to documents posted online by WGN-TV, Catanzara wrote "Let's go Brandon" in the remarks section of a personnel action request confirming his retirement. Catanzara is a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, and the "Brandon" phrase is used in right-wing circles as a stand-in for a profanity aimed at President Joe Biden.

Under union bylaws, elected positions in the union, including the one the 53-year-old Catanzara now holds, can be held by retired officers who are collecting their pensions. Catanzara's attorney, Tim Grace, said a felony conviction could jeopardize his pension, but that he can collect his pension by retiring and he could even collect his pension if the disciplinary process had continued and resulted in Catanzara's firing.

Catanzara has been a police officer for 27 years. He was elected to a three-year term as union president in 2020.