By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced Sunday that it will hold a public meeting Thursday to vote on three finalists for Chicago’s next police superintendent.
The vote will narrow a pool of 46 applicants to three names forwarded to Mayor Brandon Johnson, who will have 30 days to select one or reject the slate. The decision will shape the direction of the nation’s second-largest municipal police department.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. It falls on the final day of the 120-day window the city ordinance gives the commission to complete its search and submit candidates.
“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, one day after former Superintendent Larry Snelling retired. The commission hired national executive search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates in August to assist with recruitment and candidate evaluation. Applications opened Aug. 25 and closed Sept. 24.
Over the past several months, the commission held eight public listening sessions across Chicago, including one for youth and another conducted entirely in Spanish. Eighteen District Councils hosted neighborhood sessions. The commission also received more than 400 online responses, including 110 from Chicago Police Department personnel, and conducted 11 focus groups with community organizations, according to the commission’s news release.
Staff members 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 emerged 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.
The commission has spent recent weeks reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and evaluating their experience and qualifications.
“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.
The appointment carries an unusual political backdrop. Chicago’s next mayoral election is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2027. A new superintendent could find themselves leading the department under a different mayor with different policing priorities.
Under the city ordinance, if Johnson rejects the commission’s list, he must provide a written explanation. The commission would then have 30 days to submit three new candidates. Once the mayor selects a candidate, the appointment moves through the City Council’s approval process.
The meeting is open to the public. Commissioners will be available to answer questions from the media afterward, according to the release.
More information about the meeting and the superintendent search is available at ccpsa.chicago.gov.
