Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson chooses Larry Snelling as next CPD superintendent
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Sunday that Larry Snelling will be the city's new police superintendent.
Snelling was previously chief of the bureau of counterterrorism.
Three finalists were suggested by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability after a months-long search. The other two finalists were Angel Novalez, the CPD chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform, and Shon Barnes, the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin.
Snelling will be formally introduced by Mayor Johnson at a press conference Monday at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall.
He was raised on the South Side of Chicago, graduated from Englewood High School and holds a bachelor's degree in adult education from DePaul University, according to a release from the mayor's office.
Snelling has been with the Chicago Police Department since 1992. He has served as a patrol officer in the 7th District and as a sergeant in the 22nd District and physical skills and operations sections for rectruit training at the Police Academy. He then returned to the 7th District as watch operations lieutenant before he was promoted to commander and then deputy chief of Area 2.
Johnson's selection for superintendent is now subject to approval by the city council.
Interim Supt. Fred L. Waller released the following statement about the selection of Snelling:
I want to congratulate Chief Larry Snelling on being selected as the next Superintendent of Police by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Being able to lead the Chicago Police Department is the honor of a lifetime and I am confident he will lead with fairness and integrity.
I also want to recognize Chief Angel Novalez and Madison Police Department Chief of Police Shon Barnes and congratulate them on being finalists in the deep field of candidates.
Chief Snelling has devoted his career to strengthening safety across our beautiful city and building trust in our communities. I know he'll continue to do just that. I have personally seen the dedication and compassion Chief Snelling brings as a leader. He cares deeply for the members of the Chicago Police Department and is protective of the people of Chicago. I am excited for the fresh, innovative vision Chief Snelling will bring as Superintendent. I know the future of CPD is in good hands with Chief Snelling and the brave men and women of our Department.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul released the following statement:
Larry Snelling is a strong choice to head the Chicago Police Department. He has decades of experience with the department and is well-versed in training officers on the use of force and 21st century policing. Chief Snelling is known for positive community engagement, and I believe he will have the confidence of rank-and-file officers, community advocates and the city at large. I would also like to thank Superintendent Waller for serving as a stabilizing leader as interim superintendent.
Alexandra Block, Senior Supervising Attorney at the ACLU of Illinois, released the following statement regarding the announcement:
Mayor Johnson's announcement of Larry Snelling as the new Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department is an opportunity for fundamental change in the way people across the City experience policing. The Superintendent's top priority should be rapid progress on much-needed Consent Decree reforms, ensuring constitutional policing and Consent Decree compliance in every office and district within CPD. Chief Snelling should embrace this moment to change the "us versus them" culture in CPD – a change that is long overdue. At core, this culture change means pushing towards a community safety approach that ensures that all people in Chicago are treated with respect, provided with the timely services and support they need, regardless of their zip code, and are able to live without fear, including the fear that too often stems from interactions with law enforcement. This moment also calls for rethinking CPD's ineffective strategies of high-volume, low-yield traffic stops and stop-and-frisk harassment of Black and Latino Chicagoans.
This moment requires a superintendent who is courageous enough to hold officers accountable when they violate laws and policies, who seeks creative, non-police solutions to community issues, and who is open to suggestions from all community members and stakeholders about making policing in every neighborhood better and more effective.
CPD needs a leader who can prioritize and lead this change and can hit the ground running. We look forward to helping Chief Snelling advance these goals.
