Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, leader of one of the nation’s largest police agencies, announced his resignation Wednesday.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement saying Brown informed her of his departure Wednesday.
“I accepted his resignation and want to commend him for his accomplishments not just for the department but the entire city,” she said.
In a statement, Brown said he has accepted a chief operating officer position at Loncar Lyon Jenkins, a personal injury law firm with seven offices in Texas.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department. I will continue to pray that all officers return home to their families safe at the end of their shift,” he said.
LORI LIGHTFOOT CLAIMS SHE ‘MISSPOKE’ WHEN TELLING VOTERS WHO DON’T SUPPORT HER NOT TO VOTE
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown on Wednesday announced his resignation after leading the department through the COVID-19 pandemic and a violent crime wave. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Brown’s resignation is effective March 6. First Deputy Eric Carter will be appointed as interim superintendent until the new mayor is sworn into office.
Brown became head of the department during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. His tenure was rocked by an increase in crime amid calls to defund police departments nationwide.
The police force was in the midst of a reorganization when Brown reversed and enlarged police units, Fox Chicago reported.
He also drew criticism for ousting his head of reform Robert Boik after Boik wrote an email warning that transferring officers from the Office of Constitutional Policing to patrol shifts would make it impossible to meet the training requirements in a federal consent decree governing police reform.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The aim was to flood troubled areas of the city with officers to deter violent crime. Brown’s resignation announcement came just hours after the controversial Lightfoot was defeated in her bid for re-election as mayor. He officially steps down March 16.
John Lausch, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, which encompasses Chicago, also announced his departure on Wednesday. Lausch, a Trump appointee, took office in 2017. Much of his work included prosecuting federal crimes out of Chicago, organized crime and illegal gun offenders.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago,” he said in a statement.
