Commission announces 3 finalists in search for new Chicago police superintendent
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A major decision on Thursday evening could determine Chicago's next police superintendent.
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced the three finalists it is recommending to Mayor Brandon Johnson: Counterterrorism Chief Larry Snelling, Constitutional Policing Chief Angel Novales and the lone outsider, Shon Barnes, the Madison, Wisconsin police chief who, for a year, worked at COPA.
"We are looking for a generational leader, and we believe that we have found three," said Anthony Driver, president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.
Johnson released a statement about the commission's selected candidates, calling them "highly qualified."
"I want to express my gratitude to all those that applied, and commend the CCPSA for its dedicated work throughout this selection process. I am confident that Chicago's next superintendent will inspire trust, foster collaboration, and lead with integrity," Johnson said, in part.
The 50-year-old Novalez is a 23-year CPD veteran and currently chief of constitutional policing and reform. He was also a deputy chief of community policing.
"The consent decree, as you know, is an important part of the direction the department is going in, and I think Angel's got a lot of expertise in that, and he's got the community relationships as well," said Anthony Riccio, retired first deputy superintendent.
Snelling, who is 54, has spent 28 years with CPD and is the current chief of counterterrorism. He was also the 7th District commander in Englewood, and helped redesign CPD's use of force training model.
"He bridged the gap between the community and the police, so he wasn't just out there policing," said Daryl Smith, Englewood Political Task Force.
And the 49-year-old Barnes, who is currently chief of Madison Police, worked in Chicago as the director of training and professional development for COPA, and has also worked for departments in in Salisbury and Greenboro, North Carolina.
"Can you say an insider, outsider is better? I don't know, but I just know that to my membership more than likely an outside chief is probably not their number one choice," said FOP President John Catanzara.
Johnson now has 30 days to choose one of the finalists or reject all three, which would force the commission to start over.
The commission started with 54 candidates before whittling the list to six. The finalists have all undergone background checks.
With continuing concerns about crime, as well as the pressing needs for police reform, the choice for the next police superintendent will be critical.
"Only really strong leadership from a new superintendent, we believe, will make this consent decree a success and really start the process of turning CPD around," said ACLU of Illinois Supervising Attorney Alexandra Block.
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When David Brown left in the spring, Johnson settled on Fred Waller as an interim police superintendent. On Thursday afternoon, the commission that conducted the search met behind closed door to select the three finalists.
The three semi-finalists not selected as finalists include Snelling's retired predecessor Ernest Cato, Street Deputy Migdalia Bulnes and Labor Relations Commander Donna Rowling.
Johnson's full statement:
"The City has reached an important milestone in our search for a new superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. After diligent review and assessment, including deep community engagement, local and national searches, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) has identified three finalists from a field of highly qualified candidates.
I want to express my gratitude to all those that applied, and commend the CCPSA for its dedicated work throughout this selection process. I am confident that Chicago's next superintendent will inspire trust, foster collaboration, and lead with integrity.
Together we will continue to build a better, stronger, and safer Chicago."
