Chicago Police Superintendent McCarthy Treated for Blocked Arteries

McCarthy will remain in the hospital for "several more days," spokesman says

Chicago's police superintendent on Thursday morning underwent an emergency angioplasty to relieve blocked arteries.

Sources told NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern that Supt. Garry McCarthy woke up with chest pain. He took aspirin and drove himself to the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where an EKG revealed blockage.

Department spokesman Adam Collins said the procedure "went well," adding that McCarthy will remain in the hospital for "several more days."

"The Superintendent appreciates everyone's well wishes and is looking forward to being back on patrol with his fellow police officers very soon," Collins told NBC Chicago.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel visited McCarthy in the hospital Thursday and other law enforcement types are expressing their well wishes.

"Our thoughts are with Chicago's police superintendent and we all wish him a speedy recovery," U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon said at a Thursday event where McCarthy was also scheduled to attend.

McCarthy didn't appear to show any signs of illness while speaking at a violence summit on Wednesday. He also attended a Dinner with Luminaries charity event at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion Wednesday night and was seen leaving that event at about 10:45 p.m.

First Deputy Superintendent Alfonza Wysinger is in charge of the department while McCarthy is out, Collins said.

"I actually visited with the superintendent this morning and he is awake and alert. Anyone who knows the superintendent knows he is quite the jokester and he is joking around. The hardest thing about this will be keeping him from coming back to work," Wysinger said.

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