Mayor Rahm Emanuel is asking federal authorities and Cook County prosecutors to launch a hate-crime investigation into racial slurs broadcast over Chicago Police Department radio frequencies.
The police department began its own investigation after a male voice was heard on a police frequency on March 13 saying, “typical f-ing n—s.”
Another male voice said, “Find out what radio that comment came from.”
A female responded, “We don’t get radio numbers, but I’m already hollering for my supervisor.”
Then, a male said, “Black lives matter, my a–, f—ing n—–s.”
Authorities have said they don’t believe whoever made the racist comments was authorized to use a police radio.
“Subsequent investigation has indicated that the transmission was made by an unauthorized private citizen using non-city-issued equipment,” Emanuel said in a letter to U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez asking them to step in.
There have been three more instances of unauthorized people broadcasting racial slurs over police frequencies, the mayor said.
“The language used and the racial intolerance expressed do not represent the values of our police department or our city,” Emanuel said.
