By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability on Sunday announced it will hold a public meeting Thursday to vote on three finalists for Chicago’s next police superintendent.
The vote will cap a four-month nationwide search triggered by the retirement of former Superintendent Larry Snelling and represents the first time a civilian body will select superintendent finalists under the city’s oversight ordinance.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. Commissioners will select three candidates whose names will be forwarded to Mayor Brandon Johnson for consideration.
“This is one of the most important decisions we make as a Commission, and we know how much is at stake for Chicago,” Commission President Remel Terry said in a news release. “We’ve spent the last four months listening to residents, talking with police officers and public safety experts, and getting to know the candidates.”
The search began July 16 after Snelling’s departure. Under the city ordinance, the commission has 120 days to conduct the search and submit three names to the mayor. The commission hired Ralph Andersen & Associates, a national executive search firm, in August. Applications opened Aug. 25 and closed Sept. 24, drawing 46 applicants, according to the release.
The commission held eight public listening sessions across Chicago as part of the process, including one specifically for youth and another conducted entirely in Spanish. Eighteen District Councils also hosted neighborhood sessions.
The commission received more than 400 online responses from community members, including 110 from Chicago Police Department personnel, according to the release. Staff held 11 additional focus groups with community organizations and interviewed 22 subject matter experts, including law enforcement leaders, academics and public safety professionals.
“We heard from many people, including members of the Chicago Police Department, who shared varied perspectives on what they would like to see in the next Superintendent,” Commissioner Sandra Wortham said in the release. “Throughout this search, we worked to ensure those perspectives were a part of this process.”
Several priorities surfaced repeatedly during the outreach: reducing violent crime, building trust between police and communities, strengthening community policing efforts, making progress on the federal consent decree and improving officer wellness and morale, according to the commission.
Residents also emphasized the need for a superintendent who understands Chicago, communicates openly and is willing to work with communities and officers to address public safety challenges, according to the release.
“At the end of the day, we’re looking for someone who can bring people together, make difficult decisions, and lead a Department that Chicagoans have confidence in,” Terry said.
Once the commission submits three names, the mayor will have 30 days to select one candidate or reject the list and provide the commission with a written explanation. If the mayor rejects the list, the commission must submit three new candidates within 30 days. After the mayor selects a candidate, the appointment moves to the City Council for approval.
Commissioners will be available to answer questions from the media following Thursday’s public meeting. More information about the meeting and the superintendent search is available at ccpsa.chicago.gov.
Source: CCPSA
