Nearly three weeks after a lifeguard shot two teenagers at Douglass Park, killing one and critically wounding the other, the Chicago Park District has announced a series of internal reforms following a review of the incident.
The changes come as the family of 15-year-old Marjay Dotson laid him to rest at Healing Temple Church on the West Side during a funeral held July 9. Dotson was shot in the back while running away from gunfire near the Douglass Park pool on June 26.
Charles Leto, 55, a Park District lifeguard, is accused of shooting Dotson and 14-year-old Jeremy Herrod during a dispute involving Leto’s bicycle, according to prosecutors. Leto reportedly fired three shots. Dotson died, and Herrod was struck in the neck. He recently awakened from a coma.
Park District officials said Leto was placed on emergency unpaid suspension the day after the shooting and later resigned in lieu of termination. He has been added to the district’s “Ineligible for Rehire” list.
Officials acknowledged Leto had been involved in several previous altercations with park patrons and staff. However, they said those incidents were handled informally at the local level through oral redirection and were never documented or entered into the central personnel system.
An internal review, launched June 27, examined employee interviews, personnel files, incident reports, emails, and text messages. The investigation found serious gaps in oversight, communication, and recordkeeping related to employee conduct and behavioral red flags.
“This was a horrific and heartbreaking act of violence. Nothing can bring Marjay back or undo the pain caused to Jeremy and their families, but we must act with urgency and integrity to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who attended Dotson’s funeral.
“Our internal review was guided by three principles: thoroughness, transparency, and accountability,” Ramirez-Rosa added. “We are sharing our findings with the families, the public, and our Board because our communities deserve to know the truth and see how we’re responding.”
Although Leto did not express any safety concerns leading up to the shooting, the review revealed major deficiencies in how concerns about staff behavior were documented, tracked, and escalated.
In response, the Park District is implementing the following reforms:
- Permanent Security at Douglass Park: A fixed-post security officer has been assigned to Douglass Park. The district is also reassessing citywide security staffing to ensure more consistent, community-oriented coverage.
- Review of Security Cameras: Officials are evaluating the current park surveillance systems and exploring improvements in camera coverage and usage.
- Enhanced Staff Training: New training programs will focus on de-escalation tactics, mental health response, trauma-informed care, and active threat situations. Updated signage banning firearms from park property will be posted in both English and Spanish.
- Centralized Disciplinary Tracking: The district is developing a new system to document verbal warnings, coaching sessions, and patron complaints. Supervisors will also receive training on escalating behavioral concerns appropriately.
- Community-Led Safety Planning: A localized Douglass Park Safety Plan will be created in collaboration with residents, staff, and community partners. The initiative will serve as a model for other parks.
- Diverse Workforce Development: The Lifeguard Explorers Program, which recruits and trains youth from underrepresented communities, will be expanded. The stipend-supported initiative operates year-round to help build a skilled, diverse aquatics workforce.
- Cultural Competency and Staff Support: New resources and training will be provided to help staff connect better with the communities they serve. Supervisors will also be trained to recognize signs of employee distress and connect workers with appropriate services.
A public summary of the internal review, along with supporting documentation, is now available on the Park District’s website. Community members are encouraged to submit feedback by emailing [email protected].
In a particularly troubling finding, the review revealed that although Leto passed all required background checks, the Park District was unaware of a February 2023 incident in which he allegedly shot two dogs. That incident did not result in an arrest or charges and therefore did not appear on Leto’s record.
The findings have been shared with the Park District Board of Commissioners, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and key city stakeholders.
“Our work will not stop here,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “We owe it to Marjay, to Jeremy, to their families, and to every person who visits our parks to move forward with transparency, urgency, and care. We are committed to leaving no stone unturned and doing everything in our power to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.”