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John Catanzara

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John Catanzara
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationUnion organizer
Children1

John Catanzara is an American police union leader, and former member of the Chicago Police Department. Since May 2020, Catanzara has been president of Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police. He joined the Chicago Police Department in 1995 and was placed on administrative leave after filing a report against former Police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson.[1] Catanzara resigned from the CPD in November 2021, as his firing from the CPD appeared imminent, and announced his intention to run for mayor of Chicago.

Early life

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Catanzara was raised in Garfield Ridge, Chicago. His father was a truck driver and active union member. After graduating from St Rita High School, Catanzara worked as a truck driver.[2]

Career

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Catanzara joined the Chicago Police Department in 1995.[3] In 2020, Catanzara was elected as the head of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).[4][5][6][7] Previously in 2017, Catanzara stated of Muslims: "Savages they all deserve a bullet."[8][9] Later he defended the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol by Trump supporters, stating that: "They’re individuals ... They get to do what they want."[9] Catanzara has faced numerous complaints of misconduct during his over 20-year career as a CPD officer.[10][11]

He was assigned as the school officer at Hubbard High School for several years where he coached cross country and was involved with the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.[3] In February 2021, Catanzara was suspended without pay from the Chicago Police Department for authoring a series of obscene and inflammatory social media posts, making false reports and being insubordinate or disrespectful to supervisors.[12][13][14] In August 2021, he was criticized by mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Anti-Defamation League, and the American Jewish Committee for his comments comparing vaccine mandates to The Holocaust.[15][16]

In October 2021, Catanzara urged union police officers to file exemptions for the city's COVID vaccine reporting mandate and hold off on reporting vaccination status while on-going discussion between F.O.P. police union and city officials continue.[17]

In November 2021, Catanzara resigned from the CPD amid a disciplinary case against him in regard to alleged departmental rule violations, inflammatory social media posts, and creating false reports against superior officers.[18]

Catanzara announced his candidacy for the 2023 Chicago mayoral election. After Catanzara was disqualified, he endorsed Paul Vallas, the only other white candidate running for mayor at the time.[19] During the mayoral runoff campaign, Catanzara predicted that if the other candidate Brandon Johnson won there would be "blood in the streets" and mass resignations from the police department.[20]

In March 2023, Catanzara was reelected as union president of the Chicago FOP, with 57% of the vote.[21]

Disciplinary record

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Catanzara had been suspended 9 times for a total of 131 days during his career. He was subject of 50 civilian complaints, which put him in the 96th percentile of officers. Ten of the civilian complaints were sustained. He survived two previous attempts to fire him, before he resigned in the middle of another disciplinary action where he could potentially have lost his job.[18]

Personal life

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Catanzara had a son at the age of 22. Catanzara is a supporter of Donald Trump.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Vinicky, Amanda. "Chicago Police Union Elects John Catanzara as New President". WTTW. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hewett, Lucy (October 13, 2020). "The Police Union's Last Stand". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Officer In Controversial Photo Removed From School Where He 'Loved' Working". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Cohen, Jodi S. (January 25, 2018). "Chicago Cop Under Investigation Again Over Social Media Posts". ProPublica. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. ^ Pope, Ben (May 11, 2020). "Stripped of his police powers, new CPD union president wants to chart a new course". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Chicago Police Union's New President Defends Record, Sets Sights on Contract". WTTW News. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  7. ^ Wilkinson, Joseph (June 12, 2020). "Head of Chicago police union threatens to kick out anyone kneeling with protesters". nydailynews.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  8. ^ Masterson, Matt (December 18, 2020). "Chicago Police Union President Could Be Fired Over Social Media Posts". WTTW. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Mitchell, Chip (January 7, 2021). "Chicago Police Union President Defends Those Who Stormed The U.S. Capitol". WBEZ. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  10. ^ Richards, Zoe (November 16, 2021). "Cop Union Boss Abruptly Quits Before He Can Get Fired for Vile Posts". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "John Catanzara officially retires from Chicago Police Dept, eyes mayoral run". WGN-TV. November 16, 2021. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  12. ^ Schuba, Tom (March 29, 2021). "Embattled FOP president wants police board to drop case that could lead to his firing". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Bradley, Ben (February 10, 2021). "Chicago Police Dept. strips FOP president John Catanzara of pay, pushes forward with firing". WGN-TV. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Gorner, Jeremy (December 18, 2020). "Controversial president of Chicago police union faces possible firing over inflammatory posts on social media". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Pratt, Gregory (August 26, 2021). "Mayor Lori Lightfoot rips police union head after he compared vaccine mandate to the Holocaust". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  16. ^ Price, Satchel (August 26, 2021). "Jewish groups, Lightfoot slam police union head for comparing vaccine mandate to Holocaust". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  17. ^ Spaulding, Clare (October 12, 2021). "FOP president urges police officers to ignore city mandate to report vaccination status — predicts 50% cut in cops on street". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Schuba, Tom (November 16, 2021). "Facing firing, Chicago's controversial police union boss formally retires from CPD". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  19. ^ FOX 32 Digital Staff (October 15, 2021). "'John Catanzara for Mayor 2023': FOP president releases video after judge grants restraining order". Fox 32. Retrieved October 26, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Yin, Alice; Quig, A.D.; Pratt, Gregory (March 29, 2023). "Johnson, Vallas spar at last televised debate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Panthieu, Diane; Wall, Craig (March 3, 2023). "Chicago FOP reeelects John Catanzara as union president". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
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