CHICAGO (CBS) Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Friday that he will attend the funeral of the fallen Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez next week — despite claims that Martinez’s family asked him not to do so.
Martinez’s funeral is scheduled for next Monday. In a statement, the mayor’s office said Mayor Johnson plans to attend the funeral with Supt. Larry Snelling.
“The Mayor of Chicago will attend all tribute services for any police officer, firefighter or EMT who is killed in the line of duty. These official services are solemn moments to honor the sacrifice of our officers and first responders,” the mayor said. office said. “It is the mayor’s honor to support the officers of the entire Chicago Police Department, especially in moments of grief.”
But in a video posted earlier this week, Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara said Officer Martinez’s family had asked Mayor Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker not to attend. Catanzara said this also happened at the funeral Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca– who was shot and killed in April.
“Governor Pritzker rightly acknowledged that immediately and said he would not attend, and respected the family’s wishes. Mayor Johnson did not,” Catanzara said of Huesca’s funeral. “Repeatedly, Mayor Johnson’s team – and unfortunately the Chicago Police Department – tried to convince the family that the mayor was necessary and obligated to attend this funeral as part of the honor package.”
Catanzara said this wasn’t true — he played a clip of newly elected President Donald Trump talking about “fake news” to emphasize his point.
The mayor ultimately did not attend Huesca’s funeral, but Catanzara said the mayor’s pattern of attending a fallen officer’s funeral is now repeating itself.
“Well, here we are again – with another fallen hero, another funeral and another family that has been very clear – they don’t want the governor or the mayor to be there,” Catanzara said in the video. “Thank you, Governor Pritzker, for recognizing and respecting the family’s wishes. Shame on you, Mayor Johnson, for not publicly acknowledging this or calling the family directly to express your condolences and tell them you will honor their wishes and not attend. the wake or the funeral.”
Catanzara said it was not he or the union who asked Mayor Johnson not to attend, and that he was “simply the messenger for the family.”
The video was before Mayor Johnson said he was indeed planning to attend.
“This mayor better not show up,” says the injured officer
Friday evening, at the Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Department, 3420 W. 63rd St., members of the FOP and close friends of Officer Martinez reiterated this point and spoke out in solidarity.
Martinez’s own family members were not present, but the group in front of the police station relayed the message directly to Mayor Johnson that the family does not want him to attend the funeral.
“Enrique Martinez’s family called me tonight and said they couldn’t do this,” said George Barzydlo, a close friend of the Martinez family. “They absolutely do not want the mayor to be present at any of the functions for Enrique, simply put.”
Martinez’s family says the mayor’s public safety policies have put Martinez and many officers in danger.
“Change the policies that put them in danger,” said Edith Huesca, the mother of fallen officer Huesca.
Officer Huesca’s mother said she wanted to make sure Martinez’s family wouldn’t have to endure the back-and-forth frustration she endured with the mayor’s office during her grief.
“If the mayor, in this case, really wants to honor the family of Enrique Martinez, he must respect the wishes of the family,” said Edith Huesca.
Also joining the group was Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., who was seriously injured in the 2021 shooting that killed his partner, Officer Ella French.
“This mayor better not show up,” Yanez said. “That’s so disrespectful.”
the police said Darion McMillian23, shot Martinez and the driver of the car McMillian was in during a traffic stop in the East Chatham neighborhood a week ago Monday.
McMillian was under electronic surveillance at the time of the shooting for an arrest involving a drug test.
Martinez was engaged to be married.
Visitation for Martinez will take place Sunday at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, followed by a Mass on Monday, Nov. 18, at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel.
It should be noted that Mayor Johnson was at the hospital the night Martinez was killed, and offered his condolences directly to the family.
