The national Fraternal Order of Police demanded that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot apologize after a hot mic caught her calling a local police union leader “this FOP clown” during Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

“How does she expect to work with the police department if she regularly disparages their leadership and refuses to communicate honestly with them?” Chuck Canterbury, president of the national FOP that represents 348,000 law enforcement officers, said in a statement. “We respectfully suggest she conduct herself with more dignity and less immaturity."

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Lightfoot was overheard on the dais saying, “Back again. This is this FOP clown," as local FOP Vice President Patrick Murray approached the microphone available for the public to speak. He went on to express support for the officers who were fired by the Chicago Police Board last week over the alleged cover-up of the murder of Laquan McDonald by a police officer.

Asked later about her comment about Murray, Lightfoot said, “It was not appropriate for me to say that out loud,” the Chicago Tribune reports.

Asked if she'd apologize, Lightfoot said, "I think I just did. I think I said I shouldn't have said that out loud."