Rank-and-file Chicago cops have selected John Catanzara as the brand new president in their union for the following 3 years, changing incumbent Kevin Graham in a runoff election.
Two months after an election wherein no candidate won no less than 50% reinforce, Catanzara received 54.9% of the vote within the runoff, notching 4,709 votes to Graham’s 3,872, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 introduced Friday night.
Thursday used to be the final day for officials to forged in-person ballots on the union’s West Loop headquarters, even though maximum votes had been mailed in.
“Kevin Graham would like to Congratulate the new head of The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7, President John Catanzara,” a union remark learn.
Graham assumed union management 3 years in the past after beating former President Dean Angelo Sr. in every other runoff. Graham and Catanzara had been two of 5 applicants working within the basic election in March.
Graham’s time in FOP management has been hallmarked by means of his grievance of the Chicago Police Department’s reform efforts and consent decree, that have been spurred by means of the discharge of the Laquan McDonald taking pictures video and next investigation by means of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The union has been and not using a contract for greater than 2 ½ years. In December, the FOP board voted to place its call for for an 18% pay carry over 3 years within the palms of an impartial arbitrator.
Earlier this week, Catanzara pledged to take an competitive method in negotiations with City Hall will have to he be elected.
Catanzara used to be stripped of his police powers and assigned to administrative accountability for submitting a police record towards now-fired police Supt. Eddie Johnson after Johnson marched arm-in-arm with the Rev. Michael Pfleger at the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Three years in the past, Catanzara used to be reprimanded for posting an image of himself on social media wearing his police uniform conserving an American flag and a selfmade signal that learn, “I stand for the anthem. I love the American flag. I support my President and the Second Amendment.”
Catanzara used to be additionally advisable for firing in 2012 after Independent Police Review Authority investigators made up our minds he have been running safety at an Old Town eating place whilst he used to be on clinical depart from CPD with a again damage.
The board discovered him in charge however opted to droop him for 20 days.
Contributing: Nader Issa