Afternoon Edition: July 28, 2020

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be sunny, with a high near 87 degrees and the possibility of a little rain. Tonight’s low will be near 70 degrees. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with a high around 86 degrees.

Top story

Newly promoted CPD deputy chief dies in apparent suicide at Homan Square facility

A newly appointed Chicago police deputy chief fatally shot himself this morning in the Homan Square police facility on the West Side.

The death of Dion Boyd, 57, was announced at Chicago Police Department headquarters this afternoon by Supt. David Brown.

Boyd had been sworn in as deputy chief of criminal networks on July 15 in a series of leadership changes by Brown. He was previously the Area One commander on the South Side and commander of the Wentworth District.

Boyd’s nearly 30-year career included experience as a tactical officer, undercover officer in narcotics, homicide detective and internal affairs officer. Police sources who have met with Boyd recently to discuss investigations said he seemed interested and upbeat.

Those who knew Boyd said he had struggled with the death of Samuel Jimenez, one of his officers in the Wentworth District, who was killed in the 2018 shooting at Mercy Hospital. That was a particularly bad year for the department: Chicago Police Officer Brandon Krueger fatally shot himself at a Far South Side police station and Sgt. Steven Bechina of the department’s Mass Transit Unit fatally shot himself while on duty in the West Loop.

In 2016, a probationary Chicago police officer, Ruby Falcon, killed herself in a house during a party in a Southwest Side house. At least six other officers were in the house when Falcon grabbed another officer’s gun from a table and shot herself, officials said.

Suicides have been a problem for the Chicago Police Department for years. In 2017, the U.S. Justice Department reported that the city’s suicide rate among officers was 60% higher than the average of 18.1 officers per 100,000 nationally. The report recommended improvements in mental health counseling available to officers.

Hundreds of police officers converged on the Cook County medical examiner’s office this afternoon in a show of respect for Boyd. A giant American flag hung between the partially raised ladders of two fire engines. A procession of police vehicles preceded the ambulance that carried his body.

Dozens of officers flooded the intake area of medical examiner’s office to pay their respects.

Follow our ongoing coverage for the latest updates here.

More news you need

1. A lawsuit filed today seeks to put ComEd on the hook for at least $150 million in reimbursements to customers who saw rate increases due to a bribery scheme the company admitted to earlier this month. The lawsuit comes 10 days ComEd confessed to paying $1.3 million in bribes to associates of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
2. After protests led to the removal of two Christopher Columbus statues, the city’s (apparently) lone remaining statue honoring the controversial Italian explorer still stands, a bit over seven feet tall, in the middle of a far South Side intersection. But the alderman is looking to take it down ASAP.
3. Another 1,076 people have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said Tuesday, marking a full week of four-digit daily caseloads. An additional 30 deaths have been attributed to the virus, the most reported by the state in a single day in nearly three weeks.
4. The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunmen in an Englewood shooting that killed four people, including 14-year-old Vernado Jones Jr. Vernado, a skilled basketball player even at 14, was set to attend perennial basketball powerhouse Simeon Career Academy.
5. First-time nominee Cecily Strong and ever-the-bridesmaid Steve Carell are among the Chicago-trained actors in the running for this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards. In keeping with the city’s reputation as a launching pad for funny folks, most of our hometown nominees appear in the comedy categories.

A bright one

Sebastian Maniscalco, Pat McGann team up for comedy special from The Vic

Years before the sold-out arenas and the movie roles and the accolades regarding him as one of the top comics in the world, very few people knew the name Sebastian Maniscalco.

That changed when Vince Vaughn introduced him to the world. Vaughn featured the somewhat rookie comedian and fellow Midwesterner in his 2006 roadshow film “Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights” and it changed Maniscalco’s life. He never forgot it.

“I told myself that if I ever get in the position to get behind someone like that, I would do it,” said Maniscalco, who grew up in Arlington Heights and attended Northern Illinois University. “When you are good, good things happen.”

Todd Rosenberg Photography

And good things are now happening for local stand-up comedian Pat McGann, who grew up and still lives in the Beverly/Morgan Park area and graduated from Marist High School. Executive produced by Maniscalco, McGann’s first comedy special titled “Sebastian Maniscalco Presents Pat McGann: When’s Mom Gonna Be Home?” is set for release July 28 on streaming platforms.

“Pat is funny and funny people need to be seen,” explains Maniscalco. “You know how you like to share a good recipe or a good restaurant? Basically, I’m just doing that for him.”

Read the full story and watch the trailer for the special here.

From the press box

Bears defensive lineman Eddie Goldman – a starter in all but two games over the last three years – has reportedly opted out of playing the 2020 NFL season due to concerns over the coronavirus. He’s not the only one, either, as Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower also opted out of the season today.

Are those players’ decisions a sign of things to come? This story is far from over, Mark Potash writes.

Your daily question ☕

What do you think of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statement that Illinois won’t return back to normal until 2021?

Email us (please include your first name and where you live) and we might include your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you to tell us about your favorite Lollapalooza performance. Here’s what some of you said…

“Foo Fighters 2011 pouring rain and they finished the last encore with Everlong, my favorite song. It was incredible.” — Katie Matlin

“Metallica, Beastie Boys, Soundgarden 1994.” — Nick Calandra

“Eminem and surprise guest Rhianna OR Outkast in 2014. Both were the best shows I’ve ever been to, can’t pick between the two!” — Kaleigh Fowler

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