Democrat mayor's bodyguard is suspended over shocking act at work
Chicago Police Officer Josue Najera, 44, arrived for his 10-hour overnight shift guarding the mayor's residence at 9pm showing signs of intoxication, the report states.
He was 'agitated' and 'speaking loudly' according to the report, which also described his behavior on the evening of January 20 as 'erratic'.
When questioned by a supervising officer, Najera allegedly admitted to boozing the day away at a swanky event at the city's Trump Tower prior to his arrival.
A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed Najera's blood alcohol content to be 0.134 percent - well over Illinois ' legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to Chicago Police Department internal affairs records.
Following the test, Najera was stripped of his police powers, his gun was confiscated and he was taken to the 15th District station for further questioning.
The next day, he turned in his ID, badge and hat shield. He has been reassigned to a different department within the police force.
A 25-day suspension has been recommended but has not yet been served.
Najera put the phone down when contacted for comment by DailyMail.com.
Trump Tower hosted a viewing event from 10am to 3pm prior to Najera's shift.
At around 7pm that night, he demanded that a uniformed colleague allow him to sit in a CPD squad car, according to the report.
When a uniformed officer refused, Najera called the department's 18th District station to file a complaint against his colleague.
A supervisor from the 18th District then contacted a sergeant overseeing the mayor's detail, leading to a confrontation when Najera arrived at the politician's home.
'PO Najera was agitated, speaking loudly and avoiding eye contact while explaining the event,' the sergeant wrote in a report.
'His behavior was very uncharacteristic and erratic from the normal behavior (the sergeant) knows PO Najera to display
'(The sergeant) asked PO Najera if he had been drinking while at the Trump Tower and he said he was having fun with his family.
'(The sergeant) again asked if PO Najera had anything to drink and PO Najera answered in the affirmative - Yes.'
Najera claimed his last drink was consumed around 6:30 pm, two and a half hours before his shift began.
Multiple CPD supervisors were notified following the sergeant's alleged outburst and the disciplinary process quickly followed.
A CPD spokesperson said Najera has since been reassigned to the department's Alternate Response Section.
Najera, who joined the Chicago Police Department in 2017, had been assigned to Johnson's security detail since August 2023.
According to records cited by the Chicago Tribune, he has no prior misconduct complaints and has never been the subject of a Summary Punishment Action Request, an internal disciplinary measure for minor infractions.
Neither the Chicago Police Department nor Mayor Johnson's office has publicly commented on the suspension.
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