Mayor Brandon Johnson mentioned Friday he’ll attend the funeral of a slain police officer regardless of protests from the police union president who mentioned he wouldn’t be welcome.
The household of LAPD Officer Enrique Martinez, who was shot and killed Monday throughout a site visitors cease in Chatham, didn’t immediately touch upon their needs. however Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara and a state consultant from the Southwest Side criticized the mayor, saying his presence could be disrespectful.
In a press release, Johnson spokeswoman Erin Connelly mentioned Johnson is attending full honors funerals for first responders killed within the line of obligation, saying “our prayers and deepest sympathy exit to the Martinez household and the Beloved boyfriend of Officer Martinez.”
“Mayor Johnson will attend the honorary funeral and celebration of life for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez,” Connelly wrote. “These official honor companies are solemn moments to honor the sacrifice of our officers and first responders. It is the mayor’s honor to assist the officers of the whole Chicago Police Department, particularly in instances of grief.”
The controversy displays Chicago’s polarized political surroundings during which the progressive mayor has confronted criticism on legislation enforcement points and infrequently clashed with Catanzara.
In a YouTube video posted Monday, the top of the police union mentioned Johnson was not welcome and could be a “piece of rubbish” if he attended.
“Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker had been each knowledgeable that the household’s want was for them to not attend these companies,” Catanzara mentioned. “Governor Pritzker rightly acknowledged this instantly and mentioned he wouldn’t take part and wouldn’t honor that household’s needs. Mayor Johnson doesn’t.”
George Barzydlo, a household pal who lived close by, mentioned these emotions had been true. The 65-year-old spoke on behalf of Martinez’s household and girlfriend at a information convention Friday night outdoors the Chicago Lawn Police District headquarters, asking Johnson to not attend the funeral.
“They undoubtedly don’t need the mayor at any of the capabilities for any purpose,” he mentioned, including that his presence could be a distraction.
Barzydlo mentioned he and Martinez had a playful relationship. Barzydlo walked his aged mom across the block and met Martinez and his girlfriend.
“We would stroll again into the alley and Enrique would say to my mother, ‘hey, are you okay with that man?’” Barzydlo mentioned. “And I used to be saying to his girlfriend, ‘Hey, are you okay with that man?'”
Martinez helped his father with what Barzydlo described as a taco occasion enterprise on his days off — arduous work and cleansing, he recalled.
State Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar mentioned the Martinez household had requested her to inform Pritzker and Johnson they weren’t needed on the funeral. While Pritzker’s chief of employees accepted the request “with out hesitation,” Guerrero-Guellar mentioned Johnson’s chief of employees, Christina Pacione-Zayas, “disrespectfully and rudely didn’t perceive the message I used to be attempting to convey.” ”.
She referred to as Johnson and left him a textual content message however did not hear again till Friday night, she mentioned.
“It’s not concerning the mayor,” he mentioned. “It’s concerning the household’s needs. The mayor, for my part, is managing on his personal.”
Earlier this 12 months, Johnson was additionally warned to steer clear of the funeral of one other slain CPD officer and in the end didn’t attend, in response to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.
