CPD second-in-command won't be punished for taking pre-approved family vacation to Aruba

The No. 2 man in the Chicago Police Department will not be suspended, fired or removed for taking a family vacation in early June - approved and paid for in October - in violation of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's edict that no top brass take time off during the summer.

Lightfoot told the Chicago Sun-Times the controversy caused by Anthony Riccio's June 1-to-7 trip to Aruba to celebrate his daughter's graduation is "over for now" and she's prepared to move on.

"I've had an opportunity to get fully up to speed on what happened. We've dealt with it internally and I think it's over for now," the mayor said.

Lightfoot was pressed to describe how the matter was resolved without punishment when she hinted strongly last week that Riccio would pay a price for the ill-advised vacation.

"I wanted to make sure that I understood what had happened and the circumstances. As I understand, it was a prepaid vacation that was paid last fall and already approved," she said.

"I've emphasized to him and to the superintendent that it's important that they lead by example. So I think we've come to an understanding and I'm ready to move forward."

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