Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson has officially recommended that five officers, including officer Jason Van Dyke, be immediately removed from police duty following their involvement in the 2014 shooting death of 18-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Johnson’s recommendation launches the formal process needed to fire the officers.
The Chicago Police Board, made up of nine people appointed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, will vote to uphold or dismiss Johnson’s recommendation.
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According to Reuters, the officers named in this recommendation are: Sergeant Stephen Franko, officers Janet Mondragon, Daphne Sebastian and Ricardo Viramontes.
Each of the officers allegedly falsified the evening’s events or provided inaccurate accounts surrounding McDonald’s death.
Officer Van Dyke fatally shot Laquan McDonald 16 times in 2014. Van Dyke, who is currently on unpaid leave, is on trial for first-degree murder.