“We are here with one united voice to demand the resignation of Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx.”
Police officers from the Chicago area gathered at a Thursday press conference to demand the resignation of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
With the Fraternal Order of Police board of directors, area police chiefs and the president of the Sergeants Association by his side, FOP President Kevin Graham announced the organizations had taken a vote of no confidence in Foxx.
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“We are here with one united voice to demand the resignation of Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx,” Graham said. “We have taken a vote — both in the police chiefs associations and with the FOP — of a vote of no confidence in Kimberly Foxx.”
Graham made clear the Jussie Smollett case was not the only driving force behind their actions.
“This is not just about the Jussie Smollett case, which undermined the public confidence and law enforcement faith in Cook County criminal justice system,” Graham said. “This is about many cases in the Cook County system that have gone unprosecuted or having charges reduced. The people standing around me can give you countless examples of how Ms. Foxx’s lack of prosecution has caused our members and police officers throughout this country an enormous amount of problems.”
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Graham also alluded to the FOP’s desire for Foxx to be investigated by federal authorities for her handling of the Smollett case.
“Her interference in this case has led to some very troubling comments, both in the the Tribune and that has been stated by her own office,” Graham said. “As you know, the FOP has requested a federal investigation into her conduct and that we believe is already underway.”
Steven Stelter, representing the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association, echoed Graham’s remarks on Foxx.
“We’re here for a reason,” Stelter said. “The citizens of Cook County have to realize that their State’s Attorney is letting them down. And she’s letting them down everyday.”
The call for Foxx’s resignation came just a day after three suburban Chicago police associations took votes of “no confidence” in the prosecutor.
A letter sent to Foxx by members of the North Suburban Chiefs of Police Association criticized Foxx’s decision not to prosecute Smollett and questioned her leadership. The letter emphasizes that all three organizations are in agreement about Foxx’s conduct.
Among the concerns listed in the letter, the Chiefs of Police expressed lack of confidence in Foxx’s handing of felony review, non-prosecution of certain low-level offenses, and the recent Smollett case.
The three police organizations argue that Foxx’s strategy to address non-violent crime in Cook County is to ignore it, regardless of the costs to the community.
The president of the south suburban police chief’s association told ABC7 that the no confidence vote was not directed at the assistant state’s attorneys under Foxx who actually prosecutes cases in courtrooms. Foxx made the controversial decision last week to drop 16 felony charges against “Empire” star, and alleged hate-crime hoaxer, Jussie Smollett.
Responding to the no confidence votes, a spokesperson for Foxx issued a statement blasting the police associations.
“Unfortunately, this is an excuse to justify their resistance to our prioritizing resources to increase public safety and reduce harm,” the spokesperson said. “Our assistant state’s attorneys work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to address violence in our communities.”
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