Police Board Documents On John Catanzara

BEFORE A MEMBER OF THE POLICE BOARD
OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
IN THE MATTER OF THE )

RECOMMENDATION FOR DISCIPLINE OF ) No. 20 RR 05
POLICE OFFICER JOHN CATANZARA JR., )
STAR No. 19897, DEPARTMENT OF POLICE, )
CITY OF CHICAGO. ) (CR No. 1086910)
REQUEST FOR REVIEW
On November 16, 2020, the Office of the Police Board of the City of Chicago received
from the Chief Administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (“COPA”) a request
for review of the Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline of Police Officer John
Catanzara Jr., Star No. 19897, arising out of the investigation of Complaint Register No.
1086910 (“Request for Review”).
The Chief Administrator recommended that the following allegations against Officer
Catanzara be Sustained:
Allegation No. 1: On or about November 22, 2016, Officer Catanzara made a statement on
Facebook that used offensive language and advocated killing people, by stating, “Wtf its
seriously time to kill these motherfuckers,” in violation of Rules 2, 3, and 6.
Allegation No. 2: On or about November 25, 2016, Officer Catanzara made a statement on
Facebook that encouraged other Department members to stop chasing offenders, in violation
of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 53
Allegation No. 3: On or about December 1, 2016, Officer Catanzara shared a picture on

Facebook that was disrespectful to public benefit recipients, in violation of Rules 2, 3, and 6.
Allegation No. 4: On or about January 22, 2017, Officer Catanzara made an obscene
statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public by stating, “Is it too late to abort
thekla (sic)…the stupidity of some humans like her only prove the saying…the best part
dripped down her moms (sic) leg,” in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8.
Allegation No. 5: On or about January 30, 2017, Officer Catanzara made a statement on
Facebook that was biased against Muslims, by stating, “Savages they all deserve a bullet,” in
violation of Rules 2, 3, and 6.
Nos. 20 RR 05
Police Officer John Catanzara Jr.
Request for Review and Opinion
Allegation No. 6: On or about January 30, 2017, at approximately 10:55 a.m., Officer
Catanzara attempted to influence others’ actions about a non-police matter by referencing his
official position as a Chicago Police Officer, in violation of Rule 4.
Allegation No. 8: On or about November 16, 2017, at approximately 9:33 a.m., Officer
Catanzara made an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public by
stating, “Blow me. You know you want to,” in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8.
Allegation No. 9: On or about November 16, 2017, at approximately 3:58 p.m., Officer
Catanzara directed a threat to a member of the public on Facebook by stating, “Ok loser now
that you attack people on my page you will be blocked. Keep listening for that knock on the
door,” in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8.
Allegation No. 10: On or about October 15, 2017, at approximately 2:34 p.m., Officer
Catanzara posted a statement on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD management by
calling superior officers “spineless,” in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 32.
Allegation No. 11: On or about October 15, 2017, Officer Catanzara made an obscene
statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public by stating, “Steve would you like
to make a bet that you and your pathetic friends attempts to get any results will be as useless
as the little bit of skin you have in your pants? I’ll even give you odds!” in violation of Rules
2, 3, 6, and 8.
Allegation No. 12: On or about October 15, 2017, at approximately 2:32 p.m., Officer
Catanzara made an obscene statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public by
stating, “You’re making me get pretty thick to (sic) Steve I love you so much,” in violation
of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8.
Allegation No. 13: On or about October 18, 2017, Officer Catanzara made an obscene
statement on Facebook directed to a member of the public by stating, “Lmao…Yeah join it
so you can all group spank it together…” in violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 8.
Allegation No. 14: On December 15, 2017, Officer Catanzara posted a photograph on
Facebook that depicted him in CPD uniform and making a political statement, in violation of
Rules 6 and 42.
Allegation No. 15: On or about February 1, 2018, at 5:56 p.m., Officer Catanzara posted a
statement on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD management, in violation of Rules 2, 3,
6, and 32
Allegation No. 16: On or about February 3, 2018, at approximately 12:04 a.m., Officer
Catanzara posted a statement on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD management, in
violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 32.
2
Nos. 20 RR 05
Allegation No. 17: On or about February 3, 2018, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Officer
Catanzara posted a statement on Facebook that was disrespectful to CPD management, in
violation of Rules 2, 3, 6, and 32.
The Chief Administrator recommended that Officer Catanzara be discharged from the Chicago
Police Department.
The Superintendent objected in part to the Chief Administrator’s recommendation. The
Superintendent did not concur with the findings of Sustained for Allegation Nos. 6 and 9 (the
Superintendent agreed with the findings of Sustained for Allegation Nos. 1-5, 8, and 10-17). The
Superintendent recommended that Officer Catanzara be suspended for one year.
According to the Certificate submitted by the Chief Administrator: (1) the Chief
Administrator issued the recommendation for discipline on June 30, 2020; (2) the Chief
Administrator received the Superintendent’s written response on October 1, 2020; (3) the Chief
Administrator’s designees met with the Superintendent’s designees and discussed this matter on
November 9, 2020; and (4) the Request for Review was sent via email to the Executive Director
of the Police Board on November 16, 2020.
The Executive Director of the Police Board prepared and forwarded the Request for
Review file to Andrea Zopp, the member of the Police Board who was selected on a random
basis, pursuant to Article VI of the Police Board’s Rules of Procedure (“Reviewing Member”).
On November 24, 2020, the Reviewing Member reviewed the Request for Review pursuant to
Section 2-78-130(a)(iii) of the Municipal Code of Chicago and Article VI of the Police Board’s
Rules of Procedure.
OPINION
It is my opinion that, based on a thorough review of the Request for Review file, the
Superintendent did not meet his burden of overcoming the Chief Administrator’s
3
Nos. 20 RR 05
recommendation for discipline. Based on the facts and circumstances of this matter, an
evidentiary hearing before the Police Board is necessary to determine whether Officer Catanzara
violated any of the Police Department’s Rules of Conduct.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 2-78-130(a)(iii) of the Municipal Code of Chicago, the
Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline shall be deemed accepted by the
Superintendent.
DATED AT CHICAGO, COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS, THIS 17th DAY

OF DECEMBER, 2020.
/s/ ANDREA ZOPP

Member
Police Board
Attested by:
/s/ MAX A. CAPRONI

Executive Director
Police Board

Police Board Documents On John Catanzara

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BEFORE A MEMBER OF THE POLICE BOARD

OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

IN THE MATTER OF THE )

REQUEST FOR REVIEW

1086910 (“Request for Review”).

Allegation No. 3: On or about December 1, 2016, Officer Catanzara shared a picture on

The Superintendent objected in part to the Chief Administrator’s recommendation. The

Superintendent recommended that Officer Catanzara be suspended for one year.

of the Police Board on November 16, 2020.

violated any of the Police Department’s Rules of Conduct.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 2-78-130(a)(iii) of the Municipal Code of Chicago, the

Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline shall be deemed accepted by the

DATED AT CHICAGO, COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS, THIS 17th DAY

/s/ ANDREA ZOPP

/s/ MAX A. CAPRONI

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