A high-ranking official with the Chicago Police Department is currently the subject of an Internal Affairs investigation over remarks made concerning the war in Gaza. The suspect under scrutiny is Area 1 Deputy Chief Don Jerome, who allegedly made comments to a Palestinian-American sergeant that sparked a filed complaint. Allegations against Jerome have emerged during a series of protests coinciding with the Democratic National Convention, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
The incident reportedly transpired at the Deering District police station, where Jerome is said to have made inflammatory statements about LGBTQ+ individuals and Palestinians, as per a Chicago Sun-Times report. "If those LGBTQ protesters were in Palestine, those Muslims would behead them for being gay," Jerome allegedly remarked with levity, a comment that prompted the sergeant to challenge the inaccuracy and to request a halt to "spreading that type of rhetoric." The conversation swiftly escalated into Jerome demanding information to back up his statements and deeply probing into the sergeant's beliefs.
The complaint further accuses Jerome of creating a hostile work environment, especially as he allegedly said to the sergeant, "I will remember your name." This was “perceived this as a threat, act of retaliation as well as further creating a hostile work environment,” states the sergeant in the complaint. The report adds that this confrontation left the sergeant feeling "shocked, humiliated and embarrassed," being singled out in front of colleagues and coerced to justify his personal beliefs and identity.
This is not Jerome’s first time being questioned for his conduct. He was once suspended for 28 days concerning the cover-up of an incident involving then-Superintendent Eddie Johnson's drunken driving incident in 2019. Despite past accolades, including a White House honor in 2012 for his role in rescuing hostages during a robbery, Jerome's record is not immaculate, as documented by the Chicago Sun-Times.
