List of heads of the Chicago Police Department

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Head of the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department logo
Incumbent
Larry Snelling
since September 28, 2023
Inaugural holderOrsemus Morrison (as "High Constable")
Formation1835 (as "High Constable")

The following is a list of heads of the Chicago Police Department.

Currently the executive of the Chicago Police Department is referred to as a "Superintendent of Police". Preceding titles included High Constable, City Marshall, General Superintendent of Police, and Commissioner of Police.

History[edit]

The original head of police position, existent from 1835 through 1842, was referred to as "High Constable". The position was an elected one.[1][2]

The second title used for the head of police was "City Marshall", which was used from 1842 through 1861.[1][2] The position was an elected one.[1] For a single year during (1855-56) this time, Chicago briefly had an appointed Chief of Police position that co-headed the department alongside the City Marshall.[1]

The title used for the head of police from 1861 to 1927 was "General Superintendent of Police". The position was an appointed one.[1] After the Board of Police Commissioners was legislated out of existence in 1875, the office of City Marshall was brought back to jointly serve as the head of the Chicago Police Department alongside the General Superintendent of Police.[1] This time, the office was an appointed one.[1] By vote of the City Council on May 31, 1876 the office of City Marshall was to be abolished.[1] The office was consequentially eliminated June 5, 1876, with the position of General Superintendent of Police reinstated as the sole head of police.[1] From this point on, the city has had only a singular head of police at a time.[1]

From 1927 through 1960, the head of police was titled the Commissioner of Police.[1][2]

In 1960, the head of police assumed its current title, Superintendent of Police.[1][2]

Samuel Nolan was the first African-American individual to serve as head of the police department in an interim capacity, doing so from late–1979 until January 1980. Fred Rice Jr., who served as superintendent from 1983 through 1987, was the first African-American individual to serve on a permanent basis.[3][4]

Recent[edit]

On November 8, 2019, Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed retired Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck as the city's interim superintendent.[5] Mayor Rahm Emanuel had appointed former Bureau of Patrol Chief Eddie T. Johnson as Superintendent on March 28, 2016; on December 2, 2019, Mayor Lightfoot terminated Johnson's superintendent contract for cause.[6] He was preceded by Garry F. McCarthy, former director of the Newark, New Jersey, Police Department, as superintendent; this was approved by the city council on June 8, 2011.[7] McCarthy was the highest paid city employee with an annual salary of $260,004.[8] McCarthy was fired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on December 1, 2015, after refusing Emanuel's request that he resign over the city's high murder rate and his department's handling of the murder of Laquan McDonald.

Prior to McCarthy's appointment, Jody P. Weis had served as superintendent of police since February 2008. At the time, Weis was the second Chicago police superintendent hired from outside of the city. He replaced Philip J. Cline, who officially retired on August 3, 2007. Weis' contract expired on March 1, 2011. Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Cline's predecessor, Terry Hillard, on an interim basis.

List of heads of the Chicago Police Department[edit]

Order Name Tenure start Tenure end Title Mayor(s) served under Born Died Notes Ref
1st Orsemus Morrison August 1835 May 2, 1837 High Constable N/AA June 24, 1807 January 4, 1864 Served 1 term. [1][9]
2nd John Shrigley May 2, 1837 March 4, 1839 William B. Ogden,
Buckner Stith Morris		 November 22, 1802 August 15, 1853 Served 1 term. [1]
3rd Samuel James Lowe March 5, 1839 February 28, 1842 Benjamin W. Raymond,
Alexander Loyd,
Francis C. Sherman		 1799 1851 Served 1 term. [1]
4th Orson Smith March 1, 1842 March 4, 1844 City Marshall Francis C. Sherman,
Benjamin W. Raymond,
Augustus Garrett		 April 29, 1801 January 29, 1863 Served 1 term. [1]
5th Philip Dean March 5, 1844 March 6, 1848 Augustus Garrett,
Alson Sherman,
Augustus Garrett,
John Putnam Chapin,
James Curtiss		 June 24, 1804 November 17, 1861 Served 2 terms. [1]
6th Ambrose Burnham March 7, 1848 March 1, 1852 James Curtiss,
James H. Woodworth,
James Curtiss,
Walter S. Gurnee		 August 7, 1811 October 21, 1870 Served 2 terms. [1]
7th James L. Howe March 2, 1852 March 6, 1854 Walter S. Gurnee,
Charles McNeill Gray		 1815 1863 Served 1 term. [1]
8th Darius Knights March 7, 1854 March 3, 1856 Walter S. Gurnee,
Isaac L. Milliken		 1814 October 22, 1882 Served 1 term. [1]
9th Cyrus Parker Bradley May 26, 1855 1856 Chief of Police Levi Boone November 11, 1819 March 6, 1865 For a year, Chicago briefly had an appointed Chief of Police position that co-headed the department alongside the City Marshall. [1][2]
10th James M. Donnelly March 4, 1856 February 28, 1859 City Marshall Levi Boone,
John Wentworth,
John C. Haines		 Served 3 terms. [1]
11th Jacob Rehm March 1, 1859 March 5, 1860 John C. Haines December 7, 1828 March 6, 1915 Served 1 term. [1]
12th Iver Lawson March 6, 1860 March 4, 1861 John C. Haines,
John Wentworth		 Served 1 term. [1]
13th Cyrus Parker Bradley April 6, 1861 1862 General Superintendent of Police John Wentworth,
Julian S. Rumsey,
Francis C. Sherman		 November 11, 1819 March 6, 1865 Was acting General Superintendent from April 6, 1861, until being appointed permanent General Superintendent on April 23, 1861. [1]
14th Jacob Rehm February 20, 1863 July 3, 1863 Francis C. Sherman December 7, 1828 March 6, 1915 Initially appointed as interim General Superintendent, subsequently made permanent. [1]
— Cyrus Parker Bradley (interim) July 1863 April 1864 Francis C. Sherman November 11, 1819 March 6, 1865 [1]
15th William Turtle April 23, 1864 November 29, 1865 Francis C. Sherman,
John B. Rice		 November 27, 1820 February 14, 1887 [1]
16th Jacob Rehm November 1865 1871 John B. Rice,
Roswell B. Mason		 December 7, 1828 March 6, 1915 Was interim superintendent from November 1865 until being officially appointed as permanent superintendent on January 13, 1866. [1][10]
17th William Wallace Kennedy April 1871 July 29, 1872 Roswell B. Mason,
Joseph Medill		 May 1830 September 20, 1900 [1][11]
18th Elmer Washburn July 29, 1872 December 29, 1873 Joseph Medill,
Lester L. Bond,
Harvey D. Colvin		 December 25, 1834 November 23, 1918 Was interim General Superintendent from July 29, 1872, until being appointed permanent General Superintendent on August 12, 1872. [1][11]
19th Jacob Rehm December 22, 1873 October 4, 1875 Harvey D. Colvin December 7, 1828 March 6, 1915 [1][10]
20th George L. Dunlap July 30, 1875 November 22, 1875 City Marshall Harvey D. Colvin City Marshall, at this time, existed as co-head alongside General Superintendent of Police. [1]
21st Michael C. Hickey October 7, 1875 August 1, 1878 General Superintendent of Police Harvey D. Colvin,
Monroe Heath		 1830 August 31, 1900 [1][11]
22nd Roswell Eaton Goodell November 22, 1875 June 5, 1876 City Marshall Harvey D. Colvin October 21, 1825 October 19, 1903 City Marshall, at this time, existed as co-head alongside General Superintendent of Police. [1]
23rd Valerius A. Seavey August 1, 1878 September 7, 1879 General Superintendent of Police Monroe Heath,
Carter Harrison Sr.		 1840 September 7, 1879 Was interim General Superintendent from August 1, 1878, until being officially appointed as permanent General Superintendent on July 30, 1878. [1][11]
24th Simon O'Donnell December 15, 1879 November 30, 1880 Carter Harrison Sr. 1834 August 3, 1893 [1]
25th William J. McGarigle November 30, 1880 November 1882 Carter Harrison Sr. September 12, 1850 April 29, 1917 Was acting General Superintendent from November 30, 1880, until being officially appointed as permanent General Superintendent on December 13, 1880. [1]
26th Austin J. Doyle November 13, 1882 October 15, 1885 Carter Harrison Sr. September 18, 1849 February 6, 1924 [1][11]
27th Frederick Ebersold October 15, 1885 February 14, 1888 Carter Harrison Sr.,
John A. Roche		 March 30, 1841 January 21, 1900 Was interim General Superintendent from October 15, 1885, until being officially appointed as permanent General Superintendent on October 26, 1885. [1][11]
— Frederick H. Marsh (interim) February 14, 1888 April 17, 1888 John A. Roche 1842 May 3, 1929 [1]
28th George W. Hubbard April 17, 1888 1889 John A. Roche,
DeWitt C. Cregier		 February 22, 1850 ??? [1][11]
29th Frederick H. Marsh January 1, 1890 1891 DeWitt C. Cregier,
Hempstead Washburne		 1842 May 3, 1929 [1][11]
30th Robert Wilson McClaughry May 18, 1891 May 1893 Hempstead Washburne,
Carter Harrison Sr.		 July 22, 1839 November 9, 1920 [1][11]
31st Michael Brennan May 1893 April 8, 1895 Carter Harrison Sr.,
George B. Swift,
John P. Hopkins		 1844 April 9, 1920 Was acting General Superintendent from May 1893 until being officially appointed permanent General Superintendent on September 11, 1893. [1][11][12]
— Joseph Kipley (interim) April 8, 1895 April 11, 1895 John P. Hopkins
George B. Swift		 January 6, 1848 February 6, 1904 [1][12]
32nd John J. Badenoch April 11, 1895 April 1897 George B. Swift April 5, 1851 April 27, 1933 [1][11]
33rd Joseph Kipley April 16, 1897 April 23, 1901 George B. Swift,
Carter Harrison Jr.		 January 6, 1848 February 6, 1904 [1]
— John E. Ptacek (interim) April 16, 1901 April 30, 1901 Carter Harrison Jr. [1]
34th Francis O'Neill April 30, 1901 July 24, 1905 Carter Harrison Jr.,
Edward F. Dunne		 August 28, 1848 January 28, 1936 [1][11]
— Herman F. Schuettler (interim) July 24, 1905 July 26, 1905 Edward F. Dunne July 14, 1861 August 22, 1918 [1]
35th John M. Collins July 26, 1905 April 15, 1907 Edward F. Dunne 1840 1916 [1][11]
36th George M. Shippy April 15, 1907 August 3, 1909 Fred A. Busse June 24, 1854 April 13, 1913 [1][11]
— Herman F. Schuettler (interim) August 3, 1909 August 15, 1909 Fred A. Busse July 14, 1861 August 22, 1918 [1]
37th LeRoy T. Steward August 15, 1909 1911 Fred A. Busse March 24, 1862 April 26, 1944 [1]
— Herman F. Schuettler (interim) 1911 April 4, 1911 Fred A. Busse July 14, 1861 August 22, 1918 [1]
38th John McWeeny April 4, 1911 October 23, 1913 Fred A. Busse,
Carter Harrison Jr.		 March 15, 1857 December 26, 1934 [1]
— Herman F. Schuettler (interim) October 24, 1913 November 3, 1913 Carter Harrison Jr. July 14, 1861 August 22, 1918 [1]
39th James Gleason November 3, 1913 April 26, 1915 Carter Harrison Jr. January 13, 1861 November 16, 1929 [1][11]
40th Charles C. Healy April 26, 1915 January 11, 1917 William H. Thompson May 14, 1856 1959 [1][11]
41st Herman F. Schuettler January 11, 1917 August 22, 1918 William H. Thompson July 14, 1861 August 22, 1918 [1][11]
— John H. Alcock (interim) January 11, 1918 November 25, 1918 William H. Thompson [1]
42nd John J. Garrity November 25, 1918 November 10, 1920 William H. Thompson June 21, 1869 August 10 1940 [1]
43rd Charles C. Fitzmorris November 10, 1920 April 16, 1923 William H. Thompson May 1, 1884 August 18, 1948 [1]
44th Morgan A. Collins April 16, 1923 April 14, 1927 William E. Dever April 5, 1886 March 21, 1946 [1]
45th Michael Hughes April 14, 1927 July 25, 1928 Commissioner of Police William E. Dever,
William H. Thompson		 September 24, 1870 June 21 1956 Was acting General Superintendent from April 14, 1927, until being officially appointed permanent General Superintendent on April 16, 1923. [1]
46th William F. Russell September 12, 1928 June 16, 1930 William H. Thompson December 1, 1874 April 1, 1946 Initially acting Commissioner, elevated to permanent Commissioner. [1]
— John H. Alcock (interim) June 16, 1930 October 1, 1931 William H. Thompson,
Anton Cermak		 [1]
47th James P. Allman October 1, 1931 January 1, 1946 Anton Cermak,
Frank J. Corr,
Edward J. Kelly		 October 16, 1875 February 24, 1956 [1]
48th John C. Prendergast January 1, 1946 November 16, 1950 Edward J. Kelly,
Martin H. Kennelly		 October 19, 1884 January 16, 1958 [1]
49th Timothy J. O'Connor November 14, 1950 1960B Martin H. Kennelly,
Richard J. Daley		 January 27, 1902 December 31, 1968 [1]
50th O. W. Wilson March 2, 1960 July 1, 1967 Superintendent of Police Richard J. Daley May 15, 1900 October 18, 1972 [1]
51st James Conlisk Jr. July 1, 1967 November 1, 1973 Richard J. Daley October 2, 1918 September 29, 1984 Initially interim Superintendent, elevated to permanent Superintendent. [1]
52nd James M. Rochford November 1, 1973 October 11, 1977 Richard J. Daley,
Michael A. Bilandic		 October 1, 1921 April 14, 2004 Was acting Superintendent, from November 1, 1973, until being officially appointed as permanent Superintendent on February 11, 1974. [1]
— Michael Spiotto (interim) October 11, 1977 April 10, 1978 Michael A. Bilandic [1]
53rd James E. O'Grady April 10, 1978 April 25, 1979 Michael A. Bilandic,
Jane Byrne		 1929 — [1]
— Joseph DiLeonardi (interim) April 25, 1979 September 1, 1979 Jane Byrne March 31, 1932 January 28, 2017 Relieved of command by Mayor Jane Byrne. [1]
— Samuel Nolan (interim) September 1, 1979 January 11, 1980 Jane Byrne September 30, 1997 [1][13]
54th Richard J. Brzeczek January 11, 1980 April 29, 1983 Jane Byrne October 8, 1942 — Discharged by Mayor Jane Byrne. [1]
— James E. O'Grady (interim) April 29, 1983 August 27, 1983 Jane Byrne
Harold Washington		 1929 — [1]
55th Fred Rice Jr. August 27, 1983 November 1, 1987 Harold Washington December 24, 1926 January 10, 2011 [1]
56th LeRoy Martin November 18, 1987 April 12, 1992 Harold Washington,
Eugene Sawyer,
Richard M. Daley		 1929 August 31, 2013 [1]
57th Matt L. Rodriguez April 13, 1992 December 1, 1997 Richard M. Daley April 5, 1936 — [1]
58th Terry G. Hillard February 18, 1998 April 18, 2003 Richard M. Daley August 11, 1943 — [1]
59th Philip J. Cline October 6, 2003 April 2, 2007 Richard M. Daley October 10, 1949 — [1]
60th Jody Weis February 1, 2008 March 1, 2011 Richard M. Daley December 10, 1957 — [1]
— Terry G. Hillard (interim) March 1, 2011 May 11, 2011 Richard M. Daley August 11, 1943 — [1]
61st Garry McCarthy May 11, 2011 December 1, 2015 Rahm Emanuel May 4, 1959 — [1]
— John Escalante (interim) December 1, 2015 March 28, 2016 Rahm Emanuel — Returned to command as First Deputy Superintendent of Police on March 28, 2016. [1]
62nd Eddie T. Johnson March 28, 2016 December 2, 2019 Rahm Emanuel,
Lori Lightfoot		 July 28, 1960 — Was interim Superintendent from March 28, 2016, until being officially appointed as permanent Superintendent on April 13, 2016; discharged by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. [1]
— Charlie Beck (interim) December 2, 2019 April 15, 2020 Lori Lightfoot June 27, 1953 — [1][14][15]
63rd David Brown April 15, 2020 March 16, 2023 Lori Lightfoot September 18, 1960 — Was acting Superintendent from April 15, 2020, until being officially appointed as permanent Superintendent on April 22, 2020. Resigned post on March 16, 2023. [1][15][16][17]
— Eric Carter (interim) March 16, 2023 May 15, 2023 Lori Lightfoot Interim superintendent; stepped down on May 15, 2022 [18][19]
— Fred Waller (interim) May 15, 2023 September 27, 2023 Brandon Johnson [20]
64th Larry Snelling September 27, 2023 — Brandon Johnson [21]

Notes[edit]

^A Orsemus Morrison's tenure predates the incorporation of Chicago as a city. While no mayor was serving at the time he was High Constable, John H. Kinzie was Town President

^B The position of "General Superintendent of Police" ceased to be the head of the Chicago Police Department prior to the end of O'Connor's tenure, which was December 29, 1964

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn "HEADS OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT | ChicagoCop.com". ChicagoCop.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "History | Chicago Police Department". ChicagoPolice.org. Chicago Police Department. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Many Superintendents Have Tried To Reform the Chicago Police (TIMELINE)". DNAinfo Chicago. December 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Lee, William; Schlikerman, Becky (January 11, 2011). "Fred Rice, 1926-2011". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Gorner, Jeremy; Pratt, Gregory; Sweeney, Annie (November 10, 2019). "Mayor Lori Lightfoot appoints retired LAPD Chief Charlie Beck as Chicago's interim top cop". ChicagoTribune.
  6. ^ Kozlov, Dana (December 4, 2019). "Eddie Johnson Officially Retires, But His Firing Was Technically A Demotion, Attorney Says". CBS Television Stations.
  7. ^ "City Council unanimously approves McCarthy for police superintendent". WGN-TV. Retrieved 2011-06-10.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Garry McCarthy". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  9. ^ "A History of the City of Chicago: Its Men and Institutions. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens". Inter ocean. 1900. p. 440. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Flinn, John Joseph; Wilkie, John Elbert (1887). History of the Chicago Police: From the Settlement of the Community to the Present Time, Under Authority of the Mayor and Superintendent of the Force. Under the auspices of the Police book fund. p. 112, 553. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Yearbook for 1917". Chicago Daily News Company. 1917. p. 718. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Michael Brennan resignation from Police Dept". The Inter Ocean. April 8, 1895. p. 7. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Heise, Kenan (October 9, 1997). "SAM NOLAN, FIRST BLACK POLICE SUPERINTENDENT". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Charles L. Beck: Commanding Officer, Detective Bureau". LAPD. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  15. ^ a b Masterson, Matt (April 15, 2020). "Charlie Beck Steps Down as David Brown Becomes Chicago's New Top Cop". WTTW News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  16. ^ Spielman, Fran (2020-04-22). "City Council unanimously approves David Brown as Chicago's $260,044-a-year police superintendent". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  17. ^ Gorner, Jeremy; Sheridan, Jake (2023-03-01). "Chicago police Superintendent David Brown to exit CPD this month in the wake of the mayoral election". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  18. ^ Koval, Andy (16 March 2023). "Eric Carter selected as CPD's interim superintendent". WGN-TV. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  19. ^ Bauer, Kelly (20 April 2023). "Chicago's Interim Top Cop Will Retire Same Day Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson Takes Office". Block Club Chicago.
  20. ^ "Fred Waller sworn in as CPD interim superintendent - CBS Chicago". CBS News. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  21. ^ Spielman, Fran (27 September 2023). "City Council unanimously confirms Snelling as city's top cop. Now the hard part". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
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