# List of heads of the Chicago Police Department

The following is a list of heads of the Chicago Police Department.
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.
The second title used for the head of police was "City Marshall", which was used from 1842 through 1861. The position was an elected one. 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.
The title used for the head of police from 1861 to 1927 was "General Superintendent of Police". The position was an appointed one. 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. This time, the office was an appointed one. By vote of the City Council on May 31, 1876 the office of City Marshall was to be abolished. The office was consequentially eliminated June 5, 1876, with the position of General Superintendent of Police reinstated as the sole head of police. From this point on, the city has had only a singular head of police at a time.
From 1927 through 1960, the head of police was titled the Commissioner of Police.
In 1960, the head of police assumed its current title, Superintendent of Police.
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.

### Recent

On November 8, 2019, Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed retired Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck as the city's interim superintendent. 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. 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. McCarthy was the highest paid city employee with an annual salary of $260,004. 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 |
| 1st | Orsemus Morrison | August 1835 | May 2, 1837 | High Constable | N/A | June 24, 1807 | January 4, 1864 | Served 1 term. |
| 2nd | John Shrigley | May 2, 1837 | March 4, 1839 | High Constable | William B. Ogden, Buckner Stith Morris | November 22, 1802 | August 15, 1853 | Served 1 term. |
| 3rd | Samuel James Lowe | March 5, 1839 | February 28, 1842 | High Constable | Benjamin W. Raymond, Alexander Loyd, Francis C. Sherman | 1799 | 1851 | Served 1 term. |
| 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. |
| 5th | Philip Dean | March 5, 1844 | March 6, 1848 | City Marshall | Augustus Garrett, Alson Sherman, Augustus Garrett, John Putnam Chapin, James Curtiss | June 24, 1804 | November 17, 1861 | Served 2 terms. |
| 6th | Ambrose Burnham | March 7, 1848 | March 1, 1852 | City Marshall | James Curtiss, James H. Woodworth, James Curtiss, Walter S. Gurnee | August 7, 1811 | October 21, 1870 | Served 2 terms. |
| 7th | James L. Howe | March 2, 1852 | March 6, 1854 | City Marshall | Walter S. Gurnee, Charles McNeill Gray | 1815 | 1863 | Served 1 term. |
| 8th | Darius Knights | March 7, 1854 | March 3, 1856 | City Marshall | Walter S. Gurnee, Isaac L. Milliken | 1814 | October 22, 1882 | Served 1 term. |
| 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. |
| 10th | James M. Donnelly | March 4, 1856 | February 28, 1859 | City Marshall | Levi Boone, John Wentworth, John C. Haines | | | Served 3 terms. |
| 11th | Jacob Rehm | March 1, 1859 | March 5, 1860 | City Marshall | John C. Haines | December 7, 1828 | March 6, 1915 | Served 1 term. |
| 12th | Iver Lawson | March 6, 1860 | March 4, 1861 | City Marshall | John C. Haines, John Wentworth | | | Served 1 term. |
| 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. |
| 14th | Jacob Rehm | February 20, 1863 | July 3, 1863 | General Superintendent of Police | Francis C. Sherman | December 7, 1828 | March 6, 1915 | Initially appointed as interim General Superintendent, subsequently made permanent. |
| — | Cyrus Parker Bradley (interim) | July 1863 | April 1864 | General Superintendent of Police | Francis C. Sherman | November 11, 1819 | March 6, 1865 | |
| 15th | William Turtle | April 23, 1864 | November 29, 1865 | General Superintendent of Police | Francis C. Sherman, John B. Rice | November 27, 1820 | February 14, 1887 | |
| 16th | Jacob Rehm | November 1865 | 1871 | General Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| 17th | William Wallace Kennedy | April 1871 | July 29, 1872 | General Superintendent of Police | Roswell B. Mason, Joseph Medill | May 1830 | September 20, 1900 | |
| 18th | Elmer Washburn | July 29, 1872 | December 29, 1873 | General Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| 19th | Jacob Rehm | December 22, 1873 | October 4, 1875 | General Superintendent of Police | Harvey D. Colvin | December 7, 1828 | March 6, 1915 | |
| 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. |
| 21st | Michael C. Hickey | October 7, 1875 | August 1, 1878 | General Superintendent of Police | Harvey D. Colvin, Monroe Heath | 1830 | August 31, 1900 | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 24th | Simon O'Donnell | December 15, 1879 | November 30, 1880 | General Superintendent of Police | Carter Harrison III | 1834 | August 3, 1893 | |
| 25th | William J. McGarigle | November 30, 1880 | November 1882 | General Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| 26th | Austin J. Doyle | November 13, 1882 | October 15, 1885 | General Superintendent of Police | Carter Harrison III | September 18, 1849 | February 6, 1924 | |
| 27th | Frederick Ebersold | October 15, 1885 | February 14, 1888 | General Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| — | Frederick H. Marsh (interim) | February 14, 1888 | April 17, 1888 | General Superintendent of Police | John A. Roche | 1842 | May 3, 1929 | |
| 28th | George W. Hubbard | April 17, 1888 | 1889 | General Superintendent of Police | John A. Roche, DeWitt C. Cregier | February 22, 1850 | ??? | |
| 29th | Frederick H. Marsh | January 1, 1890 | 1891 | General Superintendent of Police | DeWitt C. Cregier, Hempstead Washburne | 1842 | May 3, 1929 | |
| 30th | Robert Wilson McClaughry | May 18, 1891 | May 1893 | General Superintendent of Police | Hempstead Washburne, Carter Harrison III | July 22, 1839 | November 9, 1920 | |
| 31st | Michael Brennan | May 1893 | April 8, 1895 | General Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| — | Joseph Kipley (interim) | April 8, 1895 | April 11, 1895 | General Superintendent of Police | John P. Hopkins George B. Swift | January 6, 1848 | February 6, 1904 | |
| 32nd | John J. Badenoch | April 11, 1895 | April 1897 | General Superintendent of Police | George B. Swift | April 5, 1851 | April 27, 1933 | |
| 33rd | Joseph Kipley | April 16, 1897 | April 23, 1901 | General Superintendent of Police | George B. Swift, Carter Harrison IV | January 6, 1848 | February 6, 1904 | |
| — | John E. Ptacek (interim) | April 16, 1901 | April 30, 1901 | General Superintendent of Police | Carter Harrison IV | | | |
| 34th | Francis O'Neill | April 30, 1901 | July 24, 1905 | General Superintendent of Police | Carter Harrison IV, Edward F. Dunne | August 28, 1848 | January 28, 1936 | |
| — | Herman F. Schuettler (interim) | July 24, 1905 | July 26, 1905 | General Superintendent of Police | Edward F. Dunne | July 14, 1861 | August 22, 1918 | |
| 35th | John M. Collins | July 26, 1905 | April 15, 1907 | General Superintendent of Police | Edward F. Dunne | 1840 | 1916 | |
| 36th | George M. Shippy | April 15, 1907 | August 3, 1909 | General Superintendent of Police | Fred A. Busse | June 24, 1854 | April 13, 1913 | |
| — | Herman F. Schuettler (interim) | August 3, 1909 | August 15, 1909 | General Superintendent of Police | Fred A. Busse | July 14, 1861 | August 22, 1918 | |
| 37th | LeRoy T. Steward | August 15, 1909 | 1911 | General Superintendent of Police | Fred A. Busse | March 24, 1862 | April 26, 1944 | |
| — | Herman F. Schuettler (interim) | 1911 | April 4, 1911 | General Superintendent of Police | Fred A. Busse | July 14, 1861 | August 22, 1918 | |
| 38th | John McWeeny | April 4, 1911 | October 23, 1913 | General Superintendent of Police | Fred A. Busse, Carter Harrison IV | March 15, 1857 | December 26, 1934 | |
| — | Herman F. Schuettler (interim) | October 24, 1913 | November 3, 1913 | General Superintendent of Police | Carter Harrison IV | July 14, 1861 | August 22, 1918 | |
| 39th | James Gleason | November 3, 1913 | April 26, 1915 | General Superintendent of Police | Carter Harrison IV | January 13, 1861 | November 16, 1929 | |
| 40th | Charles C. Healy | April 26, 1915 | January 11, 1917 | General Superintendent of Police | William H. Thompson | May 14, 1856 | 1959 | |
| 41st | Herman F. Schuettler | January 11, 1917 | August 22, 1918 | General Superintendent of Police | William H. Thompson | July 14, 1861 | August 22, 1918 | |
| — | John H. Alcock (interim) | January 11, 1918 | November 25, 1918 | General Superintendent of Police | William H. Thompson | | | |
| 42nd | John J. Garrity | November 25, 1918 | November 10, 1920 | General Superintendent of Police | William H. Thompson | June 21, 1869 | August 10 1940 | |
| 43rd | Charles C. Fitzmorris | November 10, 1920 | April 16, 1923 | General Superintendent of Police | William H. Thompson | May 1, 1884 | August 18, 1948 | |
| 44th | Morgan A. Collins | April 16, 1923 | April 14, 1927 | General Superintendent of Police | William E. Dever | April 5, 1886 | March 21, 1946 | |
| 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. |
| 46th | William F. Russell | September 12, 1928 | June 16, 1930 | Commissioner of Police | William H. Thompson | December 1, 1874 | April 1, 1946 | Initially acting Commissioner, elevated to permanent Commissioner. |
| — | John H. Alcock (interim) | June 16, 1930 | October 1, 1931 | Commissioner of Police | William H. Thompson, Anton Cermak | | | |
| 47th | James P. Allman | October 1, 1931 | January 1, 1946 | Commissioner of Police | Anton Cermak, Frank J. Corr, Edward J. Kelly | October 16, 1875 | February 24, 1956 | |
| 48th | John C. Prendergast | January 1, 1946 | November 16, 1950 | Commissioner of Police | Edward J. Kelly, Martin H. Kennelly | October 19, 1884 | January 16, 1958 | |
| 49th | Timothy J. O'Connor | November 14, 1950 | 1960 | Commissioner of Police | Martin H. Kennelly, Richard J. Daley | January 27, 1902 | December 31, 1968 | |
| 50th | O. W. Wilson | March 2, 1960 | July 1, 1967 | Superintendent of Police | Richard J. Daley | May 15, 1900 | October 18, 1972 | |
| 51st | James Conlisk Jr. | July 1, 1967 | November 1, 1973 | Superintendent of Police | Richard J. Daley | October 2, 1918 | September 29, 1984 | Initially interim Superintendent, elevated to permanent Superintendent. |
| 52nd | James M. Rochford | November 1, 1973 | October 11, 1977 | Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| — | Michael Spiotto (interim) | October 11, 1977 | April 10, 1978 | Superintendent of Police | Michael A. Bilandic | | | |
| 53rd | James E. O'Grady | April 10, 1978 | April 25, 1979 | Superintendent of Police | Michael A. Bilandic, Jane Byrne | 1929 | — | |
| — | Joseph DiLeonardi (interim) | April 25, 1979 | September 1, 1979 | Superintendent of Police | Jane Byrne | March 31, 1932 | January 28, 2017 | Relieved of command by Mayor Jane Byrne. |
| — | Samuel Nolan (interim) | September 1, 1979 | January 11, 1980 | Superintendent of Police | Jane Byrne | | September 30, 1997 | |
| 54th | Richard J. Brzeczek | January 11, 1980 | April 29, 1983 | Superintendent of Police | Jane Byrne | October 8, 1942 | — | Discharged by Mayor Jane Byrne. |
| — | James E. O'Grady (interim) | April 29, 1983 | August 27, 1983 | Superintendent of Police | Jane Byrne Harold Washington | 1929 | — | |
| 55th | Fred Rice Jr. | August 27, 1983 | November 1, 1987 | Superintendent of Police | Harold Washington | December 24, 1926 | January 10, 2011 | |
| 56th | LeRoy Martin | November 18, 1987 | April 12, 1992 | Superintendent of Police | Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer, Richard M. Daley | 1929 | August 31, 2013 | |
| 57th | Matt L. Rodriguez | April 13, 1992 | December 1, 1997 | Superintendent of Police | Richard M. Daley | April 5, 1936 | — | |
| 58th | Terry G. Hillard | February 18, 1998 | April 18, 2003 | Superintendent of Police | Richard M. Daley | August 11, 1943 | — | |
| 59th | Philip J. Cline | October 6, 2003 | April 2, 2007 | Superintendent of Police | Richard M. Daley | October 10, 1949 | — | |
| 60th | Jody Weis | February 1, 2008 | March 1, 2011 | Superintendent of Police | Richard M. Daley | December 10, 1957 | — | |
| — | Terry G. Hillard (interim) | March 1, 2011 | May 11, 2011 | Superintendent of Police | Richard M. Daley | August 11, 1943 | — | |
| 61st | Garry McCarthy | May 11, 2011 | December 1, 2015 | Superintendent of Police | Rahm Emanuel | May 4, 1959 | — | |
| — | John Escalante (interim) | December 1, 2015 | March 28, 2016 | Superintendent of Police | Rahm Emanuel | | — | Returned to command as First Deputy Superintendent of Police on March 28, 2016. |
| 62nd | Eddie T. Johnson | March 28, 2016 | December 2, 2019 | Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| — | Charlie Beck (interim) | December 2, 2019 | April 15, 2020 | Superintendent of Police | Lori Lightfoot | June 27, 1953 | — | |
| 63rd | David Brown | April 15, 2020 | March 16, 2023 | Superintendent of Police | 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. |
| — | Eric Carter (interim) | March 16, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Superintendent of Police | Lori Lightfoot | | — | Interim superintendent; stepped down on May 15, 2022 |
| — | Fred Waller (interim) | May 15, 2023 | September 27, 2023 | Superintendent of Police | Brandon Johnson | | — | |
| 64th | Larry Snelling | September 27, 2023 | — | | Brandon Johnson | | — | |