Top cop vows to root out Oath Keepers embedded in Chicago police department

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling announced a crackdown on officers in his deparment with ties to extremist and hate groups including the Oath Keepers, Block Club Chicago reported Wednesday.

A recent investigation found that more than two dozen current and former Chicago cops were linked to the right-wing militia known as the Oath Keepers -- a group that participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

“We will complete thorough investigations to make sure that we do not have members of hate groups amongst our Chicago Police Department,” said Snelling.

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“Once those investigations have been completed and due process is served, and we find that we have members amongst our ranks who are members of hate groups, we will do everything that we can to remove those members from our ranks.”

Snelling made his comments during a budget hearing at City Hall where alderpeople were vetting Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 budget.

“I really think that this is low-hanging fruit, given the fact that we really want to focus on changing the whole culture in the police department,” Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) said. “Let’s get them and get them out.”

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“Anybody who might be associated with the Oath Keepers, there’s no place for that. I appreciate your strong position on that, getting to the bottom of it,” said Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th).

Read more at Block Club Chicago.