Chicago Police Superintendent, Garry McCarthy was fired according to NBC News on Dec. 1, 2015. In a live press release Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stated he asked McCarthy to resign. This comes in the wake of protests after the publication of the video of the brutal shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, by police officer Jason Van Dyke.

An acting commissioner, John Escalante has been named. He will remain in place “until the police board has conducted a thorough search” for a replacement, according to Emanuel.

The public has also called for the resignation of the mayor and lead investigator on the case against the officer. The criticism surrounds the length of time it took to complete the investigation of the shooting death and subsequent arrest of Van Dyke.

McCarthy has also been under public scrutiny in the way he handled another shooting death at the hands of another police officer three years earlier. Rekia Boyd, 22, was unarmed. Her death happened almost three years ago, yet McCarthy announced last week that he will terminate the officer involved.

According to NBC News, McCarthy stated earlier this week that he would not step down and clearly believed the mayor supported the way the case McDonald case was handled. However, in light of the FBI intervention, he decided he had no choice but resign as requested.

By Cathy Milne

Source:

NBC News Live:
Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy Fired Week After Laquan McDonald Dash-Cam Video Released
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