CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Chicago City Council has confirmed Larry Snelling as the city’s next permanent police superintendent.
In a special session initiated by Mayor Brandon Johnson, the council unanimously voted in favor of Snelling’s appointment.
Snelling, most recently the CPD's Bureau of Counterrorism chief, has been with the department since 1992.
He becomes Chicago’s 64th police superintendent, succeeding interim Superintendent Fred Waller.
Of course, there was praise for Snelling, but there were also expressions of hope and excitement for his ascension to the role.
South Side Alderman David Moore also praised Waller for helping this day come about.
"He has mentored Chief Snelling over the years. Unlike any time when there was a transition, this is probably going to be the most seamless one," said Moore.
Downtown Alderman Brian Hopkins was enthusiastic too.
"Your experience has prepared you for this job, which is a difficult job, as we all know. It's an extraordinarily difficult job even under the best of times, and folks, these are not the best of times," Hopkins said.
All the alderpersons said accountability is important for the police and the community, and they believe Snelling will take the department in the right direction.
Last week, he gained approval from the City Council’s Police and Fire Committee after undergoing three hours of questioning. While it was a warm reception and unanimous vote of approval, the questions were wide ranging.
Snelling was asked about everything from the federal consent decree and officer mental health to automobile catalytic converter thefts. His answers were thorough and calm.
“The police department and our community members are not two separate institutions, because they can’t be,” he said in an August press conference announcing his selection. “We have to work together by listening and learning from each other. I share the mayor’s vision of public safety being supported by the full force of government to address root causes of violence to keep our beautiful city safe.”
Snelling was born and raised on the city’s South Side, graduated from Englewood High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in adult education from DePaul University.
After his first assignment as a patrol officer in Englewood’s 7th District, he received promotions to sergeant, watch operations lieutenant and commander before ultimately rising to the ranks of deputy chief of Area 2. There, he was credited with overhauling the department’s force training model as well as playing a major role in policing the 2012 Chicago NATO Summit.
Last year, Snelling was named to his current position, where he coordinated city emergencies with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication and other local government agencies.
Snelling was one the three finalists that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability presented to Johnson in July. Wisconsin Chief of Police Shon Barnes and CPD Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform Angel Novalez were the two others.
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