Top cop Eddie Johnson praised McCarthy in email

CHICAGO (AP) -- Newly released documents show that current Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson sent an email praising predecessor Garry McCarthy the day McCarthy was fired.

The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday that Johnson sent McCarthy an email on Dec. 1 saying that McCarthy had "done some really great things for the advancement of the agency." Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired McCarthy that day in the wake of public protests over the 2014 shooting by a white police officer of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was black.

Johnson was a chief of patrol when Emanuel hired him in March to replace McCarthy. Emanuel rejected three other finalists that the Chicago police board recommended for the top job.

Johnson's email was one of several the police department released Thursday under court order.