Dupage Policy Journal

Three years ago today, then-Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico cited “George Floyd” riots in signing a “declaration of a civil emergency and local state of emergency and disaster” as “violence, looting, and property damage” occurred in the city’s downtown.

“Whereas, the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and subsequent arrest of the policy officer responsible for his death and termination of police offers involved in the incident, have sparked protests in Minneapolis and hundreds of other cities across the United States of America, including in the City, for several days,” said the resolution.

The resolution cited “massive rioting, property damage, injuries, and fatalities” in Chicago on May 30, 2020, as well as “criminal acts” in Naperville’s “neighbor to the west, the City of Aurora."

On June 2, 2020, the Chicago Tribune reported on “the violence, looting and property damage in downtown Naperville Monday night following what had been a peaceful rally protesting the death of George Floyd.” 

“What happened last night is destruction plain and simple,” Chirico said. “Looting and violence is never the answer.”

A June 7 Chicago Tribune story reported, “in Naperville, people that ultimately smashed posh downtown storefronts and threw an “explosive device” that injured officers were ordered to disperse, and Police Chief Bob Marshall defended the decision not to use tear gas or conduct mass arrests.” 

“Police say bottles and bricks were thrown at police and at stores,” reported Patch.com. “Police officers were hurt by explosive devices and one person suffered a stab wound at the hands of a rioter while attempting to help police.”

ABC 7 Chicago reported, “during ABC7's 10 p.m. newscast, the crew on the scene reported hearing a group say ‘let's start looting’ before trying to kick open the doors at a Walgreens just off Main Street.” 

21-year-old black man, Jai Taylor, a 21-year old black man said “he was stabbed when he tried to stop the violence that erupted in downtown Naperville,” reported ABC 7 News.

"I couldn't see their face. They were wearing masks and they were coming around and throwing bricks at the Apple store and looting," Taylor said.

Chirico's disaster declaration also cited the “COVID-19 pandemic,” saying that “the protests and demonstrations come at a time” when “the public is being urged to avoid large gatherings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.” That hadn't stopped Chirico from attending a "rally for George Floyd" the day before the riots, in which he told attendees, “What happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis is unconscionable.”

“We can’t pretend these events didn’t happen or that we are immune in Naperville,” he said. 

Blood tests conducted as part of Floyd's post-mortem autopsy revealed 11 nanograms per milliliter, or ng/ml, of fentanyl present. 

In a June 1, 2020 memo filed by the Hennepin County, MN County Attorney’s office, Dr. Andrew Baker, the county’s chief medical examiner, said the fentanyl levels in Floyd’s blood were “pretty high.”

“This level of fentanyl can cause pulmonary edema,” said Baker. “Mr. Floyd’s lungs were 2-3x their normal weight at autopsy. That is a fatal level of fentanyl under normal circumstances.”  

In an April 30, 2023 interview on Naperville Community Television (NCTV17), Chirico cited the George Floyd riots in saying, “I know a lot of people don’t like the fact that I addressed our high school kids and took a knee with them.”

“The mayor and his staff have since hired a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – or DEI – manager, Dr. Geneace Williams,” reported NCTV17.  

Chirico was elected mayor in the April 7, 2015 general election, succeeding long-time mayor George Pradel. Chirico was formerly a member of the Naperville City Council. In February 2020, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.) appointed Chirico to the board of the Illinois Firefighters Pension Investment Fund. Chirco endorsed and campaigned for Joe Biden for president in 2020.

Chirico was succeeded as mayor by Scott Wehrli, who defeated councilman Benny White in the April 4, 2023 election. Mayor Wehrli won the race with 15,915 votes (53%) to White with 13,436 votes (45%). Tiffany Stephens also received 641 votes (2%).