Conduct unbecoming

The Anti-Defamation League is appalled by the threatening and offensive comments directed towardMuslims by police Officer John Catanzara, the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police’s president.

Expressing violent and bigoted beliefs is inconsistent with being a police officer. Period.

We respect due process and await the results of the evidentiary hearing. However, let’s be clear: Catanzara has admitted to engaging in behavior that should lead to his being fired.

Chicago Police Board member Andrea Zopp is to be commended for refusing to rubber-stamp the Chicago police superintendent’s recommendation of just a oneyear suspension. Reaffirming the recommendation fromthe Civilian Office of Police Accountability that Catanzara be fired sends an important message of accountability to the entire department.

Lawenforcement officials have a responsibility to protect all people without prejudice or bias and with equal effort and respect. Officer Catanzara’s calls for violence againstMuslims not only threatens that community, but also members of all racial, ethnic, religious and other communities that are frequent targets of hate. Also troubling, his comments were made during a time when hate crimeswere sharply on the rise in Chicago, and theU.S. Justice Departmentwas criticizing the city for understaffing the Police Department unit responsible for investigating hate crimes.

If CPD is to have any chance at rebuilding trust and credibility, then the department needs to do whatever is necessary to rid itself of officers who express and act with contempt, bias and violence.

— David Goldenberg, Midwest regional director, Anti-Defamation League, Chicago