Chicago Preps For Protests Over Video Of Police Shooting Teen

CHICAGO — Chicago police are preparing for the chance of massive protests following the Derek Chauvin verdict and the public release of video showing an officer fatally shoot 13-year-old Adam Toledo, which sources say is expected next week.

Southwest Side Ald. Ray Lopez said police Supt. David Brown briefed aldermen earlier this week on the department's strategy for handling "planned and unplanned" demonstrations such as possible protests that could occur following the trial of Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd.

"It was a pathetic meeting. We saw one of the worst times in our city last year. We're going into the spring and summer months, and to hear this police department is going to have the same, tired and ineffective policies of protecting people was disappointing," Lopez said.

"F----- is the only word that I use to describe what we are all going to be this year. I have no other explanation for my residents or this city."

On Monday, Lopez wrote a letter to Brown asking to explain exactly how he intends to prepare the department for the possibility of the kind of "looting and violence that rocked the core of our neighborhoods."

"The lessons of last year should serve as foreshadowing of what is possible when blissful ignorance becomes our safety policy," he wrote.

Lopez said during this week's briefing, Brown told aldermen that he plans to draw officers from "neighborhood districts if an event happens to protect downtown," and "continue to use garbage trucks and salt spreaders and rely on community organizations if things start to pop off in communities related to civil unrest."

"We saw last year how all that worked out for us. It didn't," Lopez said. "To hear [Brown] say in a very direct way that if we have civil unrest the CPD will be able to handle local issues. I just call b------- on it. The police department has not been able to handle local violence, local shootings, local 911 calls for the last 8 months because they keep taking from our districts to protect an empty downtown. It's infuriating to me. Busted is the way to describe [Brown's] leadership style because he's beyond fixable at this point."

A Chicago police spokesperson did not immediately return a call seeking comment.