Chicago police union President John Catanzara won a second term Friday, weathering a challenge from Detective Robert Bartlett, who argued that Catanzara’s confrontational style hurt the union’s public image and effectiveness.
Catanzara has pushed back on police reforms mandated by the U.S. Department of Justice’s consent decree, criticized Black Lives Matter protests and traded jabs with politicians, including outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot. His willingness to fight has garnered support from some in the rank-and-file.
The officer, who asked to remain anonymous, praised Catanzara’s efforts to secure benefits more quickly for young, newly hired officers. He wants good benefits so his police work can become a long career, he said. Though most of the election’s voting takes place by mail-in ballot, dozens of officers trickled into FOP headquarters Friday morning to vote. Some wearing police uniforms quickly ran in and out, while others lingered to talk with campaigners from Catanzara and Bartlett’s candidate slates.
“Everything is changing, might as well change,” he said, referring to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Tuesday election loss and police SuperintendentHe said he voted for candidates from both slates in hopes that the groups would work together. He hopes the leadership focuses on uniting members and becomes “a little less political.”
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