The Struggle for Justice for Reginald Clay, Jr. must continue!
Last Thursday, Oct. 17th, the President of the Police Board agreed the Civilian Office for Police Accountability (COPA) in its decision to dismiss (i.e. fire) CPD officer Fernando Ruiz for not deescalating in the fatal shooting of Reginald Clay, Jr. on April 15, 2023. Superintendent Snelling disagrees with COPA’s decision and the Board President’s opinion to dismiss officer Ruiz.
It’s only an opinion of the Police Board President because instead of this CPD officer being dismissed immediately he will have the option to have his case go to arbitration for a final decision. In other words the Superintendent and the FOP will be using arbitration to torpedo and undermine the system of police accountability we have fought so hard to create. This makes the Clay family one of several families whose justice is being denied by the decision of Judge Tully Mullen to allow an arbitration option for members of the FOP. This is an attack on the core of our system of police accountability, and it's why we’re fighting for the Referendum for Community Power Over Policing to gain control of the FOP contract.
We stand 100% with the Reginald Clay, Jr. family in the determination to continue to get the justice they so rightly deserve. We join them wholeheartedly in demanding the Superintendent Snelling follow the recommendation of the Police Board and fire Officer Fernando Ruiz. We cannot allow these FOP maneuvers to rob this family of justice.
We will raising these demands this coming Saturday, October 26th at 3 PM, outside the 11th police district at 3151 w Harrison Ave. Come out and join us!
