Officials, police criticize Chicago ICE stand-down; CPD says officers responded

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers and police are outraged after reports that Chicago officers were ordered to stand down as federal agents were surrounded by protesters. The Chicago Police Department disputes the claim, saying officers responded to maintain public safety and traffic control.

The National and Illinois Fraternal Order of Police says they’re “shocked and appalled” that Chicago commanders told officers not to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after an armed woman rammed a vehicle and was shot in the Brighton Park neighborhood.

“It appears that officers from the Chicago Police Department were ordered not to assist a group of ICE agents while they were physically threatened by what appeared to be an angry mob,” FOP President Patrick Yoes said. “Both the National FOP and the Illinois FOP believe that when an officer calls for assistance, you answer, no matter what.”

State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, called the order “a dereliction of duty” and blasted city leadership.

“It doesn’t matter who’s calling for help, you go,” Cabello said. “That commander, that chief of patrol needs to be fired.”

The CPD disputed the claims, saying its officers were on the scene.

“To clarify misinformation currently circulating, CPD officers did in fact respond to the shooting scene involving federal authorities on Saturday to maintain public safety and traffic control,” the department said in a statement to local Fox 32.

DHS officials accused CPD of failing to assist federal agents during the confrontation.

Dispatch audio and an internal memo reported by Fox News indicate Chicago officers en route to help ICE agents surrounded by protesters were ordered to stand down.

The female dispatcher tells officers, “per the chief of patrol, all units clear out from there, we’re not sending anybody out to that location.”

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling addressed the reports in a recent news conference, emphasizing that officers did respond and that radio transmissions do not always reflect real-time conditions on the ground.

“But we did have officers over there. We have a timeline and a breakdown of who responded, and if you listen to the radio transmissions, multiple officers said they were going to that location,” said Snelling. “They showed up because that’s what CPD does when someone’s in danger. I will note, though, that this location was separate from the shooting, it was where vehicles were rammed, around 3100 West 35th Street. We’re still looking into that. This is something that was said over the air.”

Cabello said the Illinois State Police were doing their jobs, pushing back protesters.

“If you’re in law enforcement, they [protestors] don’t care what patch is on your sleeve,” said Cabello. “At least the state police understand that they need to do something.”

Chris Southwood, president of the Illinois State FOP lodge, asked in a recent news release, “What would have happened if the local police were facing threats and nearby federal officers were told not to assist?”

Snelling stressed the CPD’s commitment to immediate action in life-threatening situations.

“When there is an immediate need for CPD to respond, I don’t want anyone, especially when someone’s life may be in danger, to have to call anybody in leadership,” said Snelling. “I want them to respond immediately. If you know as a law enforcement agent that another law enforcement agent, or anyone else, is in trouble and you need to stop violence against that person, I want them responding.”

Snelling said that officers must prioritize action in urgent situations.

“You can always explain why you disobeyed an order,” he said, noting there’s no internal memo directing otherwise. “If there are exigent circumstances, act first and explain later. Officers must respond based on what they see at the scene, and split-second decisions can always be reviewed afterward.”