Home | About | Donate

'Entire System Is to Blame': Outrage Builds After Police Union Leader Says Officer Killing of Unarmed Teen Was 'Heroic'

News & Views
#2

John Catanzara’s remarks do not reflect Chicago values.
He backed Trump.
As an example.

I did not see the Cuomo interview. Reads like the host received the commotion he likes.
I did see Catanzara’s local interview on WGN. The FOP president here is just as bad.

I do not blame the mayor, any elected or any police supervisor or training. The loss of Adam Toledo effects everyone because it can easily be one of our own 8th graders.

Today and tomorrow there will be larger protests than last nights.

4 Likes
#3

I just wonder if this POS apologist for the cops would have claimed the shooting was “heroic” if that 13 year old had been white and lived next door. That comment was outrageous and incredibly insensitive to the family involved and just gives more support for extreme measures to be used against other people like Adam Toledo.
I just saw that this asshole, Catanzara, voted for Trump. Another sucker who thought that the most lawless president in U.S. history really cared about the police.

10 Likes
#4

A police union is a consequence of service to protect undermined by the absolute travesty of the 1033 Program; the obscene practice of civil forfeiture; the corporate funny money channeled down to local politicians and impoverishment of communities that had ale=]ready been hijacked by monopolistic corporations and predatory financialization /fictionalization.

A shit show we need to lower the curtain on and tear down the stage and rebuild from scratch.

11 Likes
#5

The US has become a police state. For Americans who are not white, the US today resembles East Germany in the 1950s &60s. And like the once emperial Russia we will also soon devolve into a similiar oligarchy type state.

8 Likes
#6

First they came for---------- fill in the blank and then they came for the whites.

6 Likes
#7

Well, let’s introduce this Onion Leader to a hero, and see if he changes his mind.

1 Like
#8

The cop cars in my city say “to serve and protect” – the only ‘serving and protecting’ most cops are doing is of themselves and their fellow criminal cops. If it’s time for presidents to pass a psychological assessment before being ‘hired’ then it’s also necessary for all would-be cops to do the same!

5 Likes
#10

You are probably right about them being tested, but as you also brought out – it seems to be seriously failing somewhere.

1 Like
#11

That would be a good way to defund the police.

4 Likes
#12

“the officer’s actions were “heroic.””

In a place where courage means not afraid to kill and bravery flows from the barrel of a gun , I can see the heroism. After all , the ones who shoot up wedding parties and drop “precision” bombs on shelters are “heroes” -

9 Likes
#13

If he is going to continue to head the Police union he should at least get some training in PR. His stupid callousness did nothing but inflame the situation. He doesn’t understand the concept of de-escalation.

And of course he was completely wrong, shooting a kid with his empty hands up is not “heroic”; and if that situation was so scary for the cop he should not be patrolling Chicago.

4 Likes
#14

Catanzara, prez of local police union.
I tried to find the CNN interview and the video itself not on internet yet.
I am wondering if he downed a few, is as stupid as I think he is or just a racsist.
My coffee and donut bet is = all three.

2 Likes
#15

I believe the answer to your question would be yes, his job is to deflect and defend his fellow brothers and sisters in blue, no matter who they kill.

We also need to stop calling the organizations like Catanzara heads, unions. They are not in any sense what the rest of us would define as a labor union. A better term would be “protection organization” for their members only. I say this from experience as a firefighter local union president years ago, trying to work with these a$$holes in labor action against the city. The police “union” was the only one of the cities unions you could never depend on.

4 Likes
#16

Is this what the Chicago mayor thinks, or not?
Heroic is a horrible choice of a comment about that shooting. Geez, in today’s environment?

1 Like
#17

Ah yes, the old thin blue skin

4 Likes
#18

It is a" WAR ZONE!"-----“kids say they are assigned to gangs”-the American Life radio show

For the cops, mayor, city council and the elite of Chicago—is that Jesse Jackson----what are you doing man----Martin is so bummed-----is a hero because he just sent a message to all these kids who carry guns for these older gang members.
THE COP KNEW THE KID WAS NO DANGER----IT WAS TO SEND A MESSAGE--------IT IS A WAR! And Corporate Donny Lemon who comes from Chicago is on the police side.

Amy Goodman----Kyle Rittenhouse can kill two people----then walk past the police waving hi carrying some big gun in the open—people screaming he just shot people----Kyle walks to his car and leaves.

DEFUND THE POLICE STATE!
WE LIVE IN A CORPORATE MILITARY POLICE STATE!

SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM—SUPPORT THE COMMONS!

5 Likes
#19

police union head is just a garden-variety psychopath. nothing new here, except him being stupidly honest instead of using his political brain.

2 Likes
#20

Sounds like being a hero cop in Chicago is a pretty low bar. Killing an unarmed little kid normally isn’t regarded as anything heroic, but this is coplandia. Those shickenchits consider themselves to be heroes just for zipping up their pants.

3 Likes
#21

A recent study has reveled that there are many elite military troops that promote the “Big Lie.”
The infection is spreading. These are people that have been radicalized by Fox Noise and a rabid republican party. I’m sure none of them are phased by Romney’s repudiation of the Jan. 6th rioters.
Police must find a less lethal way to deal with suspects, or take their guns away. Or restrict the way officers can discharge their weapons.
Where the f-u- -k is the heroism in shooting to death a young unarmed teenager that is surrendering as commanded??

1 Like
#22

We had better ask ourselves what on earth is going on in America.
Why are so many people unhinged enough to kill a group of people, and then in some cases themselves as well? Is it a lack of tolerance, mental confusion, watching too much violent entertainment, or has trump left a legacy worthy of an anti-Christ?

1 Like