John Cataranza, the president of the city’s police union, warned that up to 1,000 officers could leave the department if Johnson triumphed.
Brandon Johnson winning the election to become Chicago’s next mayor was a significant moment for progressive organizations like the city’s teachers’ union, but a cause for concern among police who are worried about his policies on tackling crime.
Johnson, a Cook County commissioner endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, won a close race against Paul Vallas—a moderate Democrat backed by Chicago’s Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police. During his campaign, Johnson was forced to defend past statements in support of “defunding” the police.
The new mayor will succeed Lori Lightfoot, who became the first incumbent in 40 years to lose a reelection bid after being criticized for her response to rising crime in the city.
The number of homicides in Chicago hit a 25-year high in 2021 with more than 800, according to the Chicago Police Department. That number decreased to 695 last year but is still far higher than when Lightfoot took office in 2019.
