Three finalists have been selected by a Chicago public safety commission for the city’s next police superintendent, with the final decision resting in Mayor Brandon Johnson‘s hands.
Johnson now has 30 days to make a decision: either whittle the three finalists down to his top pick or ask the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability for three more options. His top candidate will then be presented to the Chicago City Council — from there, the council has 60 days to confirm the mayor’s choice.
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The next police executive will replace interim Superintendent Fred Waller, a 34-year veteran chief of the Chicago Police Department.
“These are three stellar candidates, three exceptional candidates, three candidates that we released a report today that detailed our process that knocked every question out of the park,” commission President Anthony Driver said in a statement. “Questions directly from the community. Questions from sworn rank and file police officers.”
Here are the three finalists that were chosen from a pool of 53 candidates.
Shon Barnes
Shon Barnes is the only non-Chicago Police Department candidate among the three finalists. He has been a police officer and executive for 23 years and began serving as police chief of Madison, Wisconsin, in 2021.
He does have a tie to Chicago, however, as he previously worked as the director of training and development at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which was charged with investigating serious misconduct allegations. Barnes is also a University of Chicago Police Leadership Academy Committee member.
Barnes is best known for his experience in crime reduction, community-based and problem-oriented policing strategies, and community-police relations.
Before coming to the Midwest, Barnes served as deputy chief in Salisbury, North Carolina, after 17 years on the police force near Greensboro, where he reached captain status.
Angel Novalez
Angel Novalez currently serves as chief for the Office of Constitutional Policing & Reform. He is tasked with enforcing a federal consent decree, a plan that addresses civil rights violations and use-of-force tactics.
Eyes are on Novalez and his office, as police data show the CPD is only in “full compliance” with less than 5% of its 552 consent decree requirement paragraphs. Over the last 4 1/2 years since Chicago entered the decree, its Bureau of Internal Affairs has launched more than 11,000 investigations into allegations of misconduct.
Novalez also held a critical role as deputy chief of the office in 2020. He was tasked with leading community policing two weeks after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers.
In 2019, he helped oversee the city’s Neighborhood Policing Initiative, which has expanded to 10 districts. In July 2022, Novalez testified before Congress on the effects of gun violence on Chicago police officers.
Larry Snelling
Larry Snelling serves as chief of counterterrorism, previously serving as deputy chief of Area 2. The bureau primarily conducts gang and narcotics investigations.
He has worked with the CPD for more than three decades and has expertise in constitutional policing. Snelling also worked as a sergeant for recruit training at the police academy.
Most notably, Snelling designed the city’s use-of-force training model, which was praised at the 2012 NATO summit for its largely nonconfrontational approaches.
However, he was suspended at least twice over his career, both relating to use of force. One incident occurred in 1994, which resulted in a three-day suspension. In 1995, Snelling served a five-year suspension for another complaint that alleged conduct unbecoming of an officer.
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Johnson said the announcement of the three finalists is an important step in the search for the city’s next law enforcement leader.
“I want to express my gratitude to all those that applied, and commend the CCPSA for its dedicated work throughout this selection process,” Johnson said in a statement via WGN-TV. “I am confident that Chicago’s next superintendent will inspire trust, foster collaboration, and lead with integrity.”
