Chicago City Council Confirms New CPD Superintendent
On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the Chicago City Council unanimously voted to confirm Larry Snelling as the new Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Brandon Johnson's Address
Brandon Johnson opened his speech emphasizing the importance of collaboration, compassion, and competency in facilitating community safety. He stressed that ensuring public safety shouldn't rest solely on the shoulders of the police, but instead, should be a collective effort and responsibility. This means harmoniously integrating all city departments and affiliations, including the Police Department, to work collectively with various sectors such as business and community organizations, along with state and federal partners, to maintain lasting peace and safety for the city of Chicago.
Johnson highlighted Snelling's commitment to improving the department's morale, which encompasses listening attentively to the officers' feedback, and formulating mental health policies that enhance their ability to work effectively while heightening public's faith in them. Through these endeavors, he anticipates the CPD serving the residents and communities in a constitutional manner.
Snelling's competency is already recognized, given his nearly three-decade long tenure at the Chicago Police Department. Johnson expressed his confidence in Snelling's capability to unify the Police Department and the communities, working towards a safer, stronger, and improved Chicago.
Larry Snelling's Statement
In his acceptance speech, Superintendent Snelling revealed that he has witnessed the department undergo numerous changes over the years. As Superintendent, he reckons there will be many more changes, deeming them crucial for propelling the department and our relationships forward with the community.
In his role, Snelling hopes to prioritize the physical and mental well-being of the department members, aiming to cultivate better relationships with the community. He strives to build trust and forge stronger partnerships with our communities through change.
Meanwhile, he intends to beef up investigations to ensure justice for victims and survivors of violent crimes who are often overlooked. He highlights the need to consider the victims and survivors of violent crime, the trauma they grapple with daily, and the aftermath when someone becomes a victim of violent crime. He expressed his commitment to supporting the affected families.
Snelling insists, "To make our city stronger, we need to do it together. We have to come together." He sees no room for adversarial relationships and states that everyone must come to the table, indicating a consensus for a safer city.
Promising to hearken to every citywide resident, Snelling urged the collective effort towards strengthening the city. He remains wholehearted about ridding the notion of adversarial relationships, deeming them counterproductive to attaining progress. He emphasized the importance of joining forces for a shared purpose - a safer and improved city for the children to grow up in.
The newly-appointed Top Cop acknowledged the distinctness of every city region and proposed that each area's safety solutions must be tailor-made to adequately address public safety. He asserted, "No one area of the city is the same. Solutions must be tailored to each specific area if we are going to fathom what public safety is supposed to be".
Finally, Snelling affirmed his readiness to work hand in hand with the members of the Chicago Police Department, the citywide populous, and the communities by stating, "I'm ready to do this alongside the members of the Chicago Police Department, and each one of you here today, and our communities."
My Two Cents
This is a place where I get to share my insight to this post:
While I remain hopeful for the success of our new Top Cop, I recognize the inherent challenges that come with this position. It's crucial for us to acknowledge that CPD led by the police superintendent, by themselves, cannot eradicate all crime by themselves. There are systemic deep-rooted societal issues and lack of proper upbringing of some residents that will impact the progress of city public safety efforts..
Now, more than ever, it's time for the residents of Chicago to respond to the call to action. Both Mayor Johnson and Snelling reiterated that the police cannot do it alone, something that should be common sense. Loud and clear, the message is for you the reader is to 1) - to get involved, 2) - stay engaged, and 3) - contribute to finding and implementing solutions.
Understand that addressing the issues plaguing our city will be a long, arduous process - likely taking over two decades. We, as a community, must stay committed, invest in resources, and work together to bring about lasting change.
In the recent news conference, one key takeaway resonated - it will take help from everyone. It's time to unite under a shared dream, and that starts by connecting with others on this public safety mission. Please join me and register at the only one-stop shop for all things public safety in Chicago at: chicagotogetherwecan.com
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So, are you ready to rise up, be engaged, and take action? The time is now. Let's courageously work together to shape a safer, more prosperous future for all in Chicago.
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