Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s tenure as the city’s chief executive has been marked by wholesale changes in the Chicago Police Department’s policies and leadership.
And while more than 4,300 people were murdered in Chicago during Emanuel’s eight yearas as mayor, the changes were largely spurred by the death of one person: Laquan McDonald.
Attorneys for the city fought against the release of the video that showed the 17-year-old’s 2014 murder in the middle of South Pulaski Road, only to have a Cook County judge order its release months after Emanuel had secured his second term in a runoff election against Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.