A video that has emerged online seems to feature a Chicago Police Department officer brandishing a firearm at onlookers during a "street takeover" incident, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The footage, which spurred the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) to investigate, purports to show the officer in the passenger seat of a prisoner transport vehicle, yelling while pointing the gun toward the crowd gathered at an intersection where cars were performing stunts.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the clip circulates as Chicago continues to grapple with street racing and stunt driving, drawing throngs of viewers and causing disruptions in neighborhoods, and this incident, specifically happening around 12:30 a.m., on the 5900 block of South Pulaski Road, appears to involve no subsequent arrests by the responding officers.

In light of the incident, concerns have been raised regarding officer conduct and adherence to prescribed protocols. "It is simply not safe and not ethical; it’s not good policing," Alexandra Block, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois Policing Project, told NBC Chicago. "For five years, the instruction to Chicago police officers has been de-escalation. And waving a loaded firearm at a crowd of people is not de-escalation," Block added.

Meanwhile, John Catanzara Jr., FOP Lodge President, weighed in stating that the context is crucial when evaluating such occurrences, referencing several past instances where crowds have turned violent towards police, adding "We are entitled to defend ourselves and go home safely," as per NBC Chicago.