Johnson gets Council heat over decision
African- American aldermen who are among Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson’s staunchest supporters were stunned and outraged by the superintendent’s decision to back a Chicago Police officer who fatally shot two people in 2015.
Ald. Roderick Sawyer ( 6th) branded it a “bad shooting” and said he can see no way to justify Johnson’s decision to argue Officer Robert Rialmo was within department guidelines when he fired the shots that killed Quintonio LeGrier and innocent bystander Bettie Jones in December 2015.
Johnson disagreed with the finding by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which found the shootings unjustified.
“The reaction [ in the community] is going to be outrage. People are gonna be quite upset because this is an innocent woman who got shot answering the door,” Sawyer said.
Sawyer noted that LeGrier was suffering from mental illness and had called police repeatedly.
“I don’t think shooting him was a responsible thing to do. The bullet that hit Bettie Jones obviously was not meant for her. But still, all she was trying to do was open the door . . . I don’t see under any situation where that shooting would be justified,” Sawyer said.
Ald. Emma Mitts ( 37th) was stunned about Johnson’s decision.
“There will be a backlash because two people got killed — an innocent bystander and a mentally ill person,” Mitts said.
Ald. Jason Ervin ( 28th) added, “Community people will be upset about it.” Ervin acknowledged that “questions could be raised” about LeGrier, who “had a weapon in his hand.” But Jones’ death is “a tough pill to swallow,” he said.