National FOP president demands that Lightfoot apologize for open mic put-down

The national president of the Fraternal Order of Police demanded Thursday that Mayor Lori Lightfoot apologize to rank and file Chicago Police officers - and "conduct herself with more dignity and less immaturity" - after Lightfoot was captured on an open mic calling their second vice-president "this FOP clown."

Chuck Canterbury jumped into the controversy triggered by Lightfoot's off-handed remark, first by tweeting the demand for a mayoral apology, then by accusing Lightfoot of immature behavior that has left Chicago Police officers feeling unappreciated by their new boss.

"She's not off to a very good start. ... She has not demonstrated a level of professionalism that she's demanding from her employees. ... She basically needs to reboot somehow," Canterbury told the Sun-Times in a telephone interview.

"They're professionals. They understand that she's the mayor. But, they also believe that she needs to listen more and talk less. ... She's surely not endearing herself to the people that are paid to protect the city of Chicago. If you continuously degrade people, it affects morale greatly."

For her part, Lightfoot merely apologized for having said it "out loud."

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