Five Chicago Police Officers Suspended In Former Top Cop Cover-Up

CHICAGO — Five police officers will face suspensions for being involved in an attempt to cover up then-Supt. Eddie Johnson's boozy drive home last year that got the top cop fired, sources said.

Deering District Commander Don Jerome, a police lieutenant and three officers have been informed they will be suspended based on recommendations in city Inspector General Joe Ferguson's investigation.

A summary of the inspector general's disciplinary recommendations is expected to be made public Friday, sources said.

In July, a summary of Ferguson's investigation found that Johnson got a police escort on a boozy drive home after officers found him slumped behind the wheel of his vehicle at 34th and Aberdeen last year. A police spokesman declined to comment.

Inspector General Joe Ferguson's investigation determined Johnson drove a city vehicle under the influence of alcohol, committed various traffic violations and lied — to the public and Mayor Lori Lightfoot — about driving while intoxicated and launching an investigation into the Oct. 17 traffic stop that ultimately got him fired, according to the summary report.

Johnson also allowed his former driver, a female police officer on his security detail, to drive a city vehicle after the two he had been drinking "several large servings of rum" at a downtown restaurant, the report said. Video shows Johnson drove from the restaurant, dropped the woman off at police headquarters at about 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 and allowed her to drive away, according to the report.

In June, the city law department released body cam video of an officer's interaction with Johnson.

The video showed Johnson appeared to wake up when officers knocked on the vehicle's window.

"Sir? Sir? You alright? You good?" the officer can be heard asking on the video. "Got your I.D.?"

About 45 seconds later, Johnson lifted an identification card up to the window. The officer asked Johnson, "You just sitting here or you wanna go home?"

Johnson said, "I'm good." The officer replied: "You good? Alright, sir. Have a good night."

Police did not perform chemical or field-sobriety tests at the scene, according to the inspector general's report. The video shows the officer walking away from the vehicle as Johnson drives off.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, however, has refused to release the full inspector general's report.