Johnson selects Larry Snelling as Chicago's new top cop

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson on Sunday stayed within the ranks and named Larry Snelling, the Chicago Police Department's counterterrorism head, as his choice for the city's next police superintendent.

Johnson selected Snelling out of three finalists put forward by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability last month following a nationwide search for the next police superintendent. The selection of Snelling, 54, to head the department is subject to City Council approval.

Snelling will succeed David Brown, who in March announced that he would step down the day after Chicago’s mayoral primary election in which crime was a central issue. Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost that primary, and Johnson went on to win the mayoral race in April.

Interim CPD Supt. Fred Waller has been leading the department since May 15 in the wake of Brown's departure.

"Today, a new chapter begins in our journey to create a better, stronger and safer Chicago," Johnson said in a statement. "Chief Snelling is a proven leader who has the experience and the respect of his peers to help ensure the safety and well-being of city residents, and address the complex challenges we all face related to community safety."

Snelling is a 28-year member of the Chicago Police Department and currently serves as the Chief of Counterterrorism for the Chicago Police Department. He oversees 1,200 department members assigned to multiple divisions including Criminal Networks, Airport Operations and the Public Transportation Section.

"It is a tremendous honor to answer the call to serve my hometown and the people of Chicago as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department," Snelling said in a statement. "It is also a tremendous responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly."

"In order to continue to make progress as a department, we must embrace innovation, continue to strengthen morale, and go further in strengthening bonds of trust between police and community," Snelling said.

Previously, Snelling served as the Deputy Chief Area 2 from 2020 until 2022, Commander of the 7th District in 2020, Lieutenant of the 7th District from 2019 until 2020, Sergeant of Training from 2011 until 2019, Sergeant of Patrol of the 22nd District from 2010 until 2011 and as an instructor in the training academy from 2001 until 2010.

Snelling also redesigned the department’s current use-of-force training model around national best practices and constitutional policing, and he has testified as an expert in federal use-of-force cases, the committee said.

Academically, he received his BA from DePaul University and is currently a candidate for a Masters of Ethical Leadership from the University of Chicago.

While crime in Chicago often focuses on murders and shootings, the numbers so far in 2023 are down in both categories by 5% and 10%, respectively, according to the most recent department crime statistics. However, overall major crime rates are up 35% so far this year over 2022.

Snelling was one of three finalists nominated by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. The other two finalists were Shon Barnes, the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin; and Angel Novalez, Chicago police chief of constitutional policing and reform.

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"I want to give special thanks to Chief Barnes and Chief Novalez, exceptional officers who I was honored to meet and engage with around their views on policing and public safety," Johnson said.