The process has begun to find Chicago’s next police superintendent. 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pick, Superintendent David Brown, resigned from the job March 16. After Lightfoot lost in the first round of voting, the move was likely as all of the mayoral candidates in the February 2023 race — except Lightfoot — vowed to fire him.

It’s now the job of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) to lead a search and to nominate three candidates for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to consider.

Applications for the top job at CPD are being accepted through May 7. Meanwhile, the CCPSA is holding four public hearings to get feedback on what the commission should look for in a candidate. The sessions are from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following days:

• April 11, 2023 - Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Boulevard
• April 19, 2023 - St. Sabina Church, 1210 W. 78th Place
• April 25, 2023 – A virtual forum
• May 4, 2023 - North Side location to be determined

According to CCPSA, the commission has 120 days to “conduct a nationwide search, recruit candidates, review applications, perform background checks, conduct interviews, and select three finalists to present to the Mayor.”

That means the three candidates must be sent to Johnson by July 14.

After that, the mayor can either make an appointment by Aug. 13, or reject the three finalists. If that happens, the commission must find another three candidates. 

“At this critical time in the city’s history, the Chicago Police Department needs a visionary and effective Superintendent,” said Community Commission President Anthony Driver.

The city ordinance governing the process states that the mayor must select a superintendent from the commission’s recommendations. Mayor Rahm Emanuel circumvented the process when he ignored the three vetted finalists and tapped Eddie Johnson in 2016.

If the mayor makes a superintendent appointment, the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety has a hearing to vote on the appointment. Once out of committee, the entire City Council gets a vote on the nominee.