Chicago Police Officer Faces Dismissal After Fatal Shooting of Reginald Clay Jr.

Officer Fired Over Fatal Shooting of Reginald Clay Jr.

Over the objection of Chicago’s top cop, a police officer now faces dismissal for fatally shooting a man who was holding a handgun after a foot pursuit in Garfield Park last year.

The Shooting Incident

On April 15, 2023, Officer Fernando Ruiz fatally shot Reginald Clay Jr., 24, following a brief foot chase in the 3800 block of West Flournoy Street. Clay ran from officers who approached him and a group of people around 10 a.m. that morning, according to statements released by the police department and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Body-worn camera footage released by COPA shows Clay walking away as two officers pulled up. Clay flees through a gangway into a backyard and then into another gangway that was blocked off. Clay is seen turning toward the officers while gripping a gun in his right hand before he shifts the weapon to his left hand and apparently tries to put it down on a back porch. Ruiz opens fire as Clay appears to scream and grab his chest.

Civilian Office of Police Accountability’s Investigation

After completing its investigation in May, COPA recommended that Ruiz be dismissed from the department over the encounter. The agency alleged that the officer violated CPD’s foot pursuit policy, failed to notify the Office of Emergency Management and Communications of the pursuit per that policy, failed to activate his body camera in a timely manner and failed to use de-escalation techniques before using force.

Chicago Police Superintendent’s Disagreement

But CPD Supt. Larry Snelling disagreed with COPA’s recommendation that the officer be fired and proposed a two-day suspension instead. Snelling only agreed with COPA’s allegations that the officer did not activate his body camera in a timely manner and failed to notify OEMC.

Police Board’s Decision

Chicago Police Board President Kyle Cooper broke the gridlock on Thursday and sided with COPA. Ruiz’s fate will now be decided after either a hearing before the full police board or, if the officer chooses, public or private arbitration. That depends on an ongoing court battle over how the most serious police misconduct cases are handled.

Civilian Reaction

Clay’s family, who sat in the audience wearing red shirts with Clay’s image and his nickname “Lil Red,” spoke during public comment and thanked Cooper for agreeing with COPA’s recommendation that Ruiz be fired. They also blasted Snelling for proposing a two-day suspension, accusing him of giving them “false hope” during their meetings with him.

“You all did the right thing today, man,” Clay’s father Reginald Clay Sr. said during the meeting.

Conclusion

The case of Reginald Clay Jr. highlights the ongoing issue of police misconduct and the need for accountability. While the decision to dismiss Officer Fernando Ruiz is a step in the right direction, it is crucial that the community continues to demand reforms and transparency in the police department’s handling of serious incidents.

FAQs

• What are the allegations against Officer Fernando Ruiz?

  The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) alleged that Ruiz violated CPD’s foot pursuit policy, failed to notify the Office of Emergency Management and Communications of the pursuit, failed to activate his body camera in a timely manner, and failed to use de-escalation techniques before using force.

• What is the outcome of the investigation?

  Officer Ruiz faces dismissal from the department, which was recommended by COPA and supported by the Police Board President Kyle Cooper.

• How did the community react to the news?

  The community, including Reginald Clay Jr.’s family, expressed relief and gratitude over the decision, while also emphasizing that justice has not yet been achieved and that the fight continues.