African-American Aldermen Push Candidates for CPD Superintendent


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Community members are speaking out tonight about who they want to see lead the Chicago Police Department.

"Chicago Tonight" has also learned about some leading candidates put forth by African-American aldermen and community leaders.

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Paris Schutz joins us live from Kennedy-King College on 63rd and Halsted as the Chicago Police Board holds its first public meeting on the matter.

Public hearing turnout

About 150 to 200 community members, clergy members and elected officials attended the public hearing, making their feelings known to the Chicago Police Board and board president Lori Lightfoot about what kind of person they want to lead the Chicago Police Department.

Candidates for the job have about three more days to apply for the position, which includes a very lengthy questionnaire. Essay questions are heavily weighted toward issues raised since the release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video nearly two months ago, such as a code of silence in the police department, police misconduct, racism, and how the superintendent would handle these things.

"Chicago Tonight" has learned of a list of candidates from within the CPD,  put together by African-American aldermen, clergy members and community leaders. They include:

• Ernest Brown, chief of Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Eddie Johnson, chief of patrol
• Fred Waller, deputy chief
• Eric Washington, head of Community Policing
• Eugene Williams, head of the Bureau of Administration

Ald. David Moore (17th Ward) said today that he hopes the police board puts these candidates front and center in their search.

"These are names that surfaced among the aldermen, people in the community and even ministers," said Moore. "And the rank and file ... From all sides of the city and all different ethnicities.

"I'm looking for a superintendent that's going to have a relationship with the community, one that works great with the rank and file – who's respected – and one who's respected by the City Council as well."

A spokesperson for Ernest Brown said that he had not applied for the position, but he still has three days left. As to the other names circulating, it's not clear whether or not they have applied for the post.


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