(The Center Square) – The wave of anti-policing measures passed in the Illinois General Assembly is being seen as a possible reason the mayor of Chicago and the governor were told to stay away from a police officer’s funeral.
Officer Luis Huesca was shot and killed as he was heading home from a shift in the early hours of April 21. Huesca’s mother requested at her late son’s wake that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker not attend Monday’s service.
Pritzker said he understands that some families want to avoid the attention that comes with a public official in attendance.
“I always follow the request of the family to do whatever it is that makes them most comfortable,” said Pritzker.
It appeared that Johnson was going to attend anyway, but decided about an hour before the funeral to stay away. He issued a statement without addressing the request.
"As mayor, I vow to continue supporting our police and first responders, uniting our city and remaining committed to working with everyone towards building a better, stronger, safer Chicago. My heart is with the Huesca family today."
Chicago Ald. Anthony Napolitano, a former police officer, told a Chicago TV station that the appetite right now of the “political movement against the police" is noticed by family members.
A similar incident took place three years ago when officers turned their back on Mayor Lori Lightfoot when she visited the family of a wounded officer at the hospital despite being asked to stay away.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, who attended the funeral, refused to comment about the mayor and governor’s absences.
"I’m not going to get into politics or anything surrounding this funeral,” said Snelling. “I am not going to take away from the real focus here and the real focus is that of Officer Luis Huesca and his family.”