Chicago City Wire

John Catanzara, president of Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 7, is facing charges filed by a union board member related to financial management and union governance. 

The charges come amid internal conflict over Catanzara’s reported efforts to enroll Chicago FOP members in another police union, a move contested by union leadership. Catanzara denied the accusations, calling them “ridiculous” and part of ongoing disputes.

On Sept. 2, Catanzara posted a video on YouTube saying, “earlier today a board member filed charges against me for financial malfeasance and a bunch of other ridiculous accusations. It seems the unrelenting attacks on certain social media platforms get the better of him.”

John Catanzara | YouTube / FOP Chicago Lodge 7

“The hearing will be conducted,” he added, “exhibits will be tendered. Proof will be tendered. The truth will come out. There is no there there.”

Catanzara, who earns $180,604 annually as union president, responded to a request for comment from Chicago City Wire by saying, “it’s an internal matter.”

The FOP’s executive board met Sept. 3 to address the charges. The meeting was closed to the public, and it is unclear what, if any, action was taken. 

No board members contacted by Chicago City Wire responded to requests for comment. As of this writing, Catanzara remains listed as president on the FOP website.

The dispute intensified after Catanzara reportedly attempted to enroll Chicago FOP members in the United Coalition of Public Safety (UCOPS), a national police union. The National Fraternal Order of Police (NFOP) responded with a cease-and-desist letter, accusing UCOPS of unauthorized use of the NFOP’s trademark in representing Chicago Lodge #7.

Under Illinois Fraternal Order of Police bylaws, placing Chicago FOP under another union’s control is prohibited—one of the charges reportedly filed against Catanzara.

A Sept. 5 post on the blog Second City Cop (SCC) reported that FOP First Vice President Michael Mette filed five charges against Catanzara. As Mette filed the charges, he deferred the appointment of an investigative committee to the Second Vice President.

SCC also reported that Mette offered to drop the charges if Catanzara produced receipts for certain credit card charges that are central to the accusations, but Catanzara declined.

Earlier SCC posts indicated some charges involve spending on union events and staff bonuses, including an installation dinner that cost more than double the amount approved by the board. The additional cost was later retroactively approved, SCC said.

SCC also questioned the results of the 2020 union election that first brought Catanzara to office. He was re-elected in March 2023.