Chicago City Wire

Interim Chicago Police Superintendent Eric M. Carter has announced his retirement. 

Carter will only have spent two months atop the department when he leaves. He is retiring on May 15.  

"To the residents of Chicago, law enforcement agencies, clergy, community leaders, and the many organizations who work each day beside CPD, thank you,” Carter said in a press release. Your continued partnership strengthens public safety daily across our great city. It has been my greatest honor to serve as your Interim Superintendent and I have committed to working with Mayor-Elect Johnson to ensure that our department continues to deliver transformational service to Chicago's residents and visitors throughout the summer season, as the search for a permanent Superintendent continues and the subsequent transition.” 

Before becoming interim superintendent Carter served as first deputy superintendent from July 2020 to March 2023.

"I am blessed to have worked alongside some of the most creative and compassionate individuals to wear the Chicago police star, and I will miss the many professional and personal relationships that I have formed over my career," he added. "I look forward to my next adventure but I will always hold the men and women - sworn and civilian - of this department, in the highest esteem. Thank you all for what you do for our city daily.”

Lt. John Garrido III expects as many as 1,500 Chicago Police officers – around 10% of the current force – to resign following the election of Brandon Johnson, Chicago City Wire reported. 

“You know, Chicago voters never fail to disappoint,” Garrido told Fox News. “Unfortunately we had a million voters stay home again and just threw their hands up in the air and said that they don't care about crime in our city. They don't care about increases in taxes. You know, what they don't realize is these things need to be a priority and they should be a priority. And while we'd always love to, you know, when the new guy comes in, you want to give him an opportunity, you give him a chance and see how they're going to do.” 

WTTW previously reported that during an appearance on “Chicago Tonight,” Johnson said he would look for someone with local ties to the community who “understands the unique nature of the city of Chicago” as a replacement for Brown. Johnson added that while he would prefer an officer from Chicago, he would be open to any candidate from across the country if they were the right fit. He also said he would promote 200 more detectives to the force and ensure that the Chicago Police Department would be reformed under the department's consent decree. 

In 2020, Johnson was unequivocal in his thoughts on police funding. At the time Johnson was advocating for the Justice for Black Lives resolution which he introduced. 

“This resolution is the first step in a series of measures designed to bring justice, equity and equal protection under the law in the second largest county in the nation,” Johnson said in a statement, according to Wednesday Journal. 

According to the resolution, Cook County “shall redirect money from the failed and racist systems of policing, criminalization, and incarceration that have not kept our communities safe, and will instead invest that money in public services not administered by law enforcement that promote community health and safety equitably across the county, but especially in Black and Brown communities most impacted by violence and incarceration.”