Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson to announce retirement

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson will announce his plans to retire Thursday morning.

“A true son of Chicago who grew up in public housing [and] went to public schools went on to become one of our most dedicated public servants,” Anthony Guglielmi, the department’s chief spokesman, tweeted. “#ChicagoPolice Supt Eddie Johnson will announce plans to retire as leader of the nation’s second largest police department.”

A true son of Chicago who grew up in public housing & went to public schools went on to become one of our most dedicated public servants. #ChicagoPolice Supt Eddie Johnson will announce plans to retire as leader of the nation’s second largest police department. CPD HQ @ 1045a pic.twitter.com/CVc7EaP4mP

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 7, 2019

Johnson’s announcement comes as city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson investigates an incident from last month in which police officers found Johnson sleeping in his car. Johnson later said he had been drinking that evening, but clarified earlier this week that his consideration to retire was unrelated to the probe.

{mosads}Former Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and former Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz have been floated as interim replacements for Johnson, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Johnson was first hired in spring 2016 by then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel as the city’s police department faced widespread criticism amid the release of video footage showing a white Chicago police officer shooting black teen Laquan McDonald 16 times.

Johnson beefed up Chicago’s police forces and deployed technology such as shot-spotting cameras and predictive analytics to anticipate violence. Homicides and shootings have ticked down under Johnson’s tenure, but authorities posted low clearance rates in recent years, according to The Tribune.