Larry Snelling Retires as Chicago Police Superintendent

After serving nearly three years as the head of Chicago’s police department, Superintendent Larry Snelling announced his retirement, effective July 15. Snelling highlighted several achievements during his tenure, such as overseeing the 2024 Democratic National Convention and achieving record decreases in shootings, homicides, and violent crime.

Snelling credited these successes to the commitment and bravery of the Chicago Police Department’s members. Despite the progress, he acknowledged more work ahead and expressed confidence that a strong foundation had been established for future improvements.

Snelling joined the department in 1992, starting as a patrol officer and later becoming a sergeant at the police academy. He rose to Superintendent in August 2023 and focused on reducing crime through collaboration. His approach faced challenges, notably during Operation Midway Blitz, where tensions with federal immigration enforcement arose.

Mayor Brandon Johnson praised Snelling’s dedication to Chicago and announced that Fred Waller, a seasoned CPD veteran, would serve as interim superintendent. Snelling’s leadership emphasized community safety strategies and deep community involvement.

Snelling also stressed the importance of addressing youth violence in communities, a concern drawing from his own experiences growing up in Englewood. He advocated for proactive efforts to prevent the youth from becoming victims or perpetrators of crime.

In addition to fighting crime, Snelling was recognized for his expertise in police training, particularly use-of-force procedures. He testified in over two dozen cases and had substantial input in CPD’s response during the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which received commendations for officer conduct and de-escalation tactics.

During his tenure, a new collective bargaining agreement was approved, providing officers a 20% pay raise while shifting severe misconduct cases to third-party arbitration. This led to legal disputes over CPD’s internal discipline, which remain unresolved.

Snelling often publicly challenged the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, criticizing what he deemed excessive penalties for minor infractions. Despite tensions, he consistently aimed to make the CPD as transparent and accountable as possible, frequently engaging with the public and addressing concerns.