Mayor Brandon Johnson has finally played his hand in shaping the future oversight of Chicago's police force, missing a deadline but delivering seven names to staff the city's new permanent Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Among the appointees is Anthony Driver Jr., the interim commission president celebrated for spearheading the search that landed the city its new police superintendent, Larry Snelling. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Driver brings forth concerns about consent decree compliance and untimely police responses, particularly on Chicago's South and West sides.
The mayor's selections, which also includes the interim vice president Remel Terry, were chosen from a pool of 15 nominees vetted by a 22-member committee, as WTTW News notes. Terry has expressed a desire to amplify community engagement and is implicated in bringing more local voices to the decision-making table. The City Council, whose task it becomes to confirm the mayor's picks, is scheduled to formally introduce them on May 22, with the potential for a full council vote slated for as early as June.
Driver, whose leadership was pivotal in the appointment of Snelling – a decision that received unanimous council support according to the WTTW News report – will serve alongside Sandra Wortham, known for her current role as executive board president of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the tragic loss of her brother, a Chicago officer killed in the line of duty.
Adding to the panel's depth, other nominees such as Aaron Gottlieb and Kelly Presley, carry the flag of social work and legal expertise respectively. Combined with Angel Rubi Navarijo's grassroots connection and Abierre Minor's legislative office experience, it's clear that the mayor is banking on a tapestry of community voices to weave a new narrative surrounding the CPD. This ensemble is tasked with steep responsibilities, including policy oversight and conducting searches for key leadership roles, setting goals for CPD and COPA, as well as an ominous power to initiate no-confidence votes that could trigger a City Council reaction.
While terms will vary, marking some members with four years of service while others span two, the goal remains uniform across the appointees – the eager pursuit of bridging the long-standing chasm between police and the polis of Chicago. Each member is poised to pocket a $12,000 annual stipend for their contribution, with the commission president earning $15,000, as per city law. These selections, as indicated by the Chicago Sun-Times, not only herald a new chapter for the commission but also serve as tangible manifestations of Johnson's commitment to reshaping the city's approach to community safety and police accountability.
