An off-duty Chicago police officer, Raid Ghanimah, faces a 10-day suspension for marching in uniform during a pro-Palestinian demonstration last year, The Chicago Sun-Times reports. Ghanimah, who’s been on a leave of absence since early 2023, was wearing his black battle-dress uniform and holding Palestinian and Blue Lives Matter flags during a downtown demonstration on Oct. 18, 2023. Ghanimah, who was hired as an officer in 2000, is accused of using tape to cover his name and star number on his uniform and failing to identify himself as a member of the Chicago Police Department when he was asked. The report said he violated several department rules, including one involving officers engaging in political activity. Under department’s rules, an off-duty officer participating in political activity can’t “wear a uniform or any part thereof that would identify the individual as a Chicago police officer” or “hold himself/herself out as a Chicago police officer.”
Three days after that march, Ghanimah participated in another political rally on Michigan Avenue wearing his uniform, according to witnesses. Ghanimah has remained active on social media where he has denounced Israel and its actions in Gaza, along with President Biden. Ghanimah is receiving an “ordinary disability” that pays half his salary for an unspecified injury, according to police pension board records. He’s applying for a “duty disability” that would pay 75% of his salary until his retirement. If he doesn’t return to work, he won’t be served with his recommended suspension. The evidence gathered against Ghanimah included officer body-worn camera video, witness statements and social media postings.