List of heads of the Chicago Police Department

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

Head of the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department logo
Incumbent Larry Snelling since September 28, 2023
Inaugural holder	Orsemus Morrison (as "High Constable")
Formation	1835 (as "High Constable")

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

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

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

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 III	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 III	1834	August 3, 1893		[1]
25th		William J. McGarigle	November 30, 1880	November 1882		Carter Harrison III	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 III	September 18, 1849	February 6, 1924		[1][11]
27th		Frederick Ebersold	October 15, 1885	February 14, 1888		Carter Harrison III, 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 III	July 22, 1839	November 9, 1920		[1][11]
31st		Michael Brennan	May 1893	April 8, 1895		Carter Harrison III, 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 IV	January 6, 1848	February 6, 1904		[1]
—		John E. Ptacek (interim)	April 16, 1901	April 30, 1901		Carter Harrison IV				[1]
34th		Francis O'Neill	April 30, 1901	July 24, 1905		Carter Harrison IV, 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 IV	March 15, 1857	December 26, 1934		[1]
—		Herman F. Schuettler (interim)	October 24, 1913	November 3, 1913		Carter Harrison IV	July 14, 1861	August 22, 1918		[1]
39th		James Gleason	November 3, 1913	April 26, 1915		Carter Harrison IV	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

^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

• List of heads of the Chicago Fire Department