Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson Needs Kidney Transplant

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson — who fell ill and lost his balance during a news conference at a South Side police station on Friday — needs a kidney transplant, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times .

Anthony Guglielmi, chief spokesman for the police department, tweeted that Johnson was expected to be released from the hospital sometime Friday. "He is fine & in great spirits," Guglielmi wrote. "Incident unrelated to a longstanding kidney issue."

At about 3 p.m., Guglielmi tweeted that Johnson would be released from the hospital in the "next few hours," and that after his discharge," Johnson "will brief media on his health episode." Guglielmi indicated that the briefing would be at police headquarters.

Guglielmi told the Sun-Times the near-collapse that occurred Friday at the Englewood District station was unrelated to the superintendent's longstanding kidney condition. The incident had to do with blood-pressure medication Johnson is taking.

"He had taken some blood pressure medication, felt light-headed, did not lose consciousness, but did lose his balance," Guglielmi said. "He has been managing a kidney issue for 32 years," Guglielmi added. "He has been managing it successfully with no impact on his ability to lead a normal life. He is not on dialysis. He does not have diabetes."