(a) Superintendent. When a vacancy occurs in the position of Superintendent, the Commission shall hold at least four public hearings at which members of the public may provide recommendations to inform the Commission's selection of Superintendent candidates. At least one public hearing shall be held on the North Side of Chicago, the South Side of Chicago, and the West Side of Chicago.
To solicit candidates to fill the Superintendent vacancy, the Commission shall conduct a nationwide search, including recruiting candidates, thoroughly reviewing applications, conducting background checks, and conducting in-depth interviews of the best-qualified candidates. Qualified candidates will, at a minimum, demonstrate experience in leading proactive public-safety initiatives, advances in training and accountability, and increasing trust between police officers and the communities they serve.
Within 120 days after a vacancy occurs in the position of Superintendent, the Commission shall submit three candidates for the position to the Mayor. Within 30 days thereafter, the Mayor shall either select one of these candidates, or reject the candidates and provide the Commission with a written explanation, which the Commission shall make publicly available no later than three business days after receipt. Within 30 days after this rejection, the Commission shall submit to the Mayor three new candidates, which shall not include any previous candidate. Within 30 days thereafter, the Mayor shall either select a candidate or reject the candidates and provide the Commission with a written explanation, which the Commission shall make publicly available no later than three business days after receipt. This process shall continue until the Mayor appoints and submits for City Council approval a candidate.
After the Mayor has appointed and submitted to the City Council a candidate for Superintendent, but before the City Council Committee on Police and Fire, or its successor committee, has held a hearing on the appointment, the Commission shall hold a public hearing at which the candidate shall appear and answer questions from the Commission and from members of the public. At the hearing, the Commission shall also provide time for public comment on the candidate. Before the public hearing, the Commission shall provide on its website an opportunity for members of the public to register questions for and comments about the candidate, and shall make publicly available a written explanation of why the Commission nominated this candidate.
After the City Council has approved the appointment of the Superintendent, the Commission shall hold at least four public hearings at which the Superintendent may speak and members of the public may share comments and questions, and provide recommendations to inform the Commission's work with the Superintendent. At least one public hearing shall be held on the North Side of Chicago, the South Side of Chicago, and the West Side of Chicago.
(b) Chief Administrator. The Chief Administrator shall be appointed by the Commission subject to City Council approval. When a vacancy occurs or is anticipated in the position of Chief Administrator, the Commission shall engage a nationally recognized organization with expertise in government oversight to perform a nationwide search and identify at least ten candidates. The Commission shall select a Chief Administrator from among the candidates identified in this process. Such candidates shall fulfill the qualifications in Section 2-78-115. The Commission shall select the candidate it deems most qualified and publish its selection on its website. The Mayor shall have the opportunity to provide written input on the Commission's selection before its referral to the City Council Committee on Police and Fire, or its successor committee. The Commission's selected candidate shall be referred to the City Council Committee on Police and Fire, or its successor committee, for a hearing, and shall then be subject to City Council approval. If the City Council rejects the Commission's selected candidate, within 30 days thereafter the Commission shall select a new candidate.
(c) Police Board. When a vacancy occurs on the Police Board, the Commission shall, within 60 days, identify candidates eligible to fill the vacancy. Such candidates shall have the qualifications listed in Section 2-80-040(b)(1) through (b)(7) and (b)(9), and shall adhere to the Police Board Selection Criteria promulgated pursuant to paragraph 532 of the Consent Decree. For each Police Board vacancy, the Commission shall submit to the Mayor three candidates it deems most qualified, except that, for an anticipated vacancy due to the expiration of a term, the Commission may submit only one eligible candidate for reappointment. Within 30 days thereafter, the Mayor shall select a candidate, or reject the candidates or reappointment candidate, and provide the Commission with a written explanation, which the Commission shall make publicly available no later than three business days after receipt. Within 30 days after this rejection, the Commission shall submit three new candidates to the Mayor, which shall not include any previous candidate. Within 30 days thereafter, the Mayor shall either select a candidate or reject the candidates and provide the Commission with a written explanation, which the Commission shall make publicly available no later than three business days after receipt. This process shall continue until the Mayor selects a candidate.
(d) The Mayor's selection of a candidate in subsections (a) or (c), shall be referred to the City Council Committee on Police and Fire, or its successor committee, for a hearing, and shall then be subject to City Council approval. If the City Council rejects the Mayor's selected candidate, within 30 days thereafter the Mayor shall either select a different candidate from the most recent list submitted by the Commission, or request that the Commission provide three new candidates.
(Added Coun. J. 7-21-21, p. 33219, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54948, Art. I, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 7-19-23, p. 1768, § 3)