Three CPD Insiders Advance in Chicago Superintendent Search
The finalists are First Deputy Superintendent Antoinette Ursitti, Angel Novalez, who leads community policing, and Christopher Papaioannou, who heads counterterrorism. Each has held senior posts at the department for years. Ursitti, a 26-year department veteran, would be its first woman superintendent if selected. Novalez and Papaioannou each have 27 years with CPD.
The commission’s search began after former Superintendent Larry Snelling retired in July. It drew 46 applicants and included public listening sessions, community focus groups and feedback gathered through neighborhood meetings. The city paid search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates $200,000 to assist.
Johnson now has 30 days to select a finalist or reject all three and ask for a second search. The City Council must vote on his choice. The selection comes as Johnson faces reelection, and the finalists include neither an outsider nor an African American candidate, unlike in previous search cycles.
Ursitti previously served as chief of detectives, and Ald. Matt O’Shea praised her work on clearance rates and called her a strong leader. Novalez led constitutional policing and reform work tied to the federal consent decree. Papaioannou, who became counterterrorism chief this spring, has helped coordinate public safety for major events, including the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
The commission said the finalists bring experience in areas including patrol, investigations, community policing and reform. Priorities raised during community engagement included reducing violent crime, strengthening trust between police and residents, and improving officer wellness and morale.
Chicago’s Next Police Chief Must Deliver Accountability and Trust
Chicago’s next police superintendent will come from inside a department still tasked with reform and rebuilding trust. The public safety commission unanimously advanced First Deputy Superintendent Antoinette Ursitti, Angel Novalez, who heads community policing, and Christopher Papaioannou, who leads counterterrorism, on November 12.
The finalists have substantial CPD experience, but none is an outsider or an African American candidate, unlike finalists in previous search cycles. That makes Johnson’s choice especially consequential as he faces reelection and decides who will lead the department through its continuing work under a federal consent decree.
Novalez previously led constitutional policing and reform efforts. During his tenure, CPD increased its compliance with consent decree requirements. Ursitti, who would be the department’s first woman superintendent, served as chief of detectives and has been praised for her work on clearance rates. Papaioannou has coordinated public safety operations for major events.
The search followed eight public listening sessions, including one focused on young people and another conducted in Spanish. Community feedback repeatedly identified reducing violent crime, improving police-community trust and supporting officer wellness and morale as priorities. The process drew 46 applicants, with a national search firm assisting the commission.
Johnson has 30 days to name one of the finalists or reject all three and request another search. The City Council must then vote on his selection. The decision should be judged against the public’s stated priorities and the department’s reform obligations, not simply the candidates’ years inside CPD.
Chicago’s Police Chief Search Favors Experienced Department Leaders
Chicago has narrowed its police superintendent search to three experienced department leaders, putting the decision in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hands. The finalists are First Deputy Superintendent Antoinette Ursitti, Angel Novalez, who oversees community policing, and Christopher Papaioannou, who directs counterterrorism.
Each has spent decades in CPD leadership. Ursitti, a 26-year veteran and former chief of detectives, would be the department’s first woman superintendent. Ald. Matt O’Shea praised her record on clearance rates and described her as a strong leader. Novalez has worked on constitutional policing and reform, while Papaioannou has coordinated security operations for major events.
The choice of three insiders gives the city candidates with direct knowledge of the department’s operations, from investigations and patrol to community policing. The commission said their experience spans violent-offender apprehensions, large-scale operations and reform work. Those qualifications matter in a search where community members repeatedly raised violent crime, police-community trust and officer morale as concerns.
The search began after Larry Snelling retired in July and drew 46 applicants. It involved public listening sessions, community focus groups and neighborhood feedback. Johnson has 30 days to pick a finalist or reject the slate and ask for a second search; the City Council must vote on his choice.
The mayor faces reelection as he makes the appointment. Some council members had sought to delay the search until after the election, fearing political uncertainty could discourage strong applicants. O’Shea said Ursitti’s place among the finalists made him reconsider that concern.
Reported by CBS Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times.
