CCPSA Recommends Candidates for CPD Police Superintendent
Exciting progress is being made on civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department that was ushered in by the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance in July 2021. The member congregations of Community Renewal Society worked for more than six years to develop and pass this ordinance and were instrumental in bringing together a diverse coalition of community organizations. From this ordinance, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability was established.
On June 29, 2023, the commission hosted a public forum at The Kehrein Center for The Arts to discuss the search for the next Police Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). They reported that an impressive total of 54 applications were received through the nationwide search, marking the most applicants in Chicago’s history for this position. Each commissioner reviewed the applications and assessed them based on the qualifications that were laid out in the superintendent application brochure. The commission gathered feedback from the community regarding the key qualities desired in the new superintendent and proceeded with two rounds of interviews with selected candidates.
The full commission then met in closed session on Thursday, July 13 to review the results of background checks that were conducted for the six finalists. After the closed session, the Commission convened a special public meeting at the Kennedy-King College Auditorium. This meeting provided an opportunity for the community to witness the decision-making process and continue their participation in the selection process. The Commission extended an invitation to all members of the public to attend the meeting, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the selection process.
The three nominees to be presented to Mayor Brandon Johnson include:
Chief Shon Barnes has been a police officer and police executive for 23 years. Currently, he serves as the Chief of Police in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a highly regarded leader recognized for his expertise in crime reduction, community-based and problem-oriented policing strategies, and community-police relations. He was the Deputy Chief of Police in Salisbury, North Carolina from 2017 to 2020 and Captain of the Greensboro, North Carolina Police Department, where he began his career as a patrol officer in 2000. He also served as the Director of Training and Professional Development for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) in Chicago. He was honored as a National Institute of Justice, LEADS scholar, for using innovative technology to reduce crime. He is also a University of Chicago Police Leadership Academy Committee member. Chief Barnes is an accomplished academic with a Ph.D in Leadership Studies, specializing in Community and Civic Engagement, Strategic Planning, Police Disparities, and Organizational Change. His dissertation examined racial disparities and profiling in police traffic stops. He earned his PhD Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina A&T University and a Masters in Science, in Criminal Justice, from the University of Cincinnati.
Chief Angel Novalez is a 23-year member of the Chicago Police Department. He currently serves as the Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform. He is responsible for leading the Department's policy, training, and reform strategy, and leading the efforts to bring the Department further into compliance with the Consent Decree. As Deputy Chief of Community Policing from 2021 until 2022, he oversaw the Department’s community policing efforts, youth engagement, the Neighborhood Policing Initiative (NPI) Program, and the expansion of CPD’s Civil Rights Unit. He was also responsible for fulfilling community policing related Consent Decree requirements. He previously served as Commander of the Office of Community Policing from 2020 until 2021, a Lieutenant in Area 4 in 2020, a Sergeant in the 5th District, and a police officer in various neighborhoods. He has also served as the commanding officer of the Procedural Justice Training Program at the Education and Training Division. Chief Novalez has testified before the U.S Senate Judiciary Committee about the impact of gun violence on Chicago communities and officers in law enforcement. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in public safety management from Calumet College of St. Joseph, and is currently a candidate for an MBA from St. Xavier University.
Chief Larry Snelling is a 28-year member of the Chicago Police Department. Currently, he serves as the Chief of Counterterrorism for the Chicago Police Department and oversees 1,200 Department members assigned to multiple divisions including Criminal Networks, Airport Operations, and the Public Transportation Section. Chief 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. He 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. Chief Snelling was a lead trainer for field force training for the 2012 Chicago NATO Summit. He received his BA from DePaul University and is currently a candidate for a Masters of Ethical Leadership from the University of Chicago.
As per ordinance, within 30 days of receiving the list of nominees, the Mayor will either select one of these candidates, or reject the candidates and request a new list.
To stay up to date and engaged with CCPSA:
Read our previous CCPSA recap and other articles related to Police Accountability.
Read the 62-Page Superintendent Search 2023 Process Report here.
Read our blog article about the mandated Consent Decree.
Katie Masano Hill, Communications Intern