Chicago Police Veteran John Escalante Named As Interim Chicago Police Chief
By Kate Shepherd in News on Dec 1, 2015 10:41PM
Chicago Police First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante will replace former CPD chief Garry McCarthy "until the police board has conducted a thorough search," Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced in a press conference Tuesday morning.
Emanuel asked McCarthy to resign from his job as superintendent following widespread controversy resulting from the Laquan McDonald video. The mayor appointed then-Newark, New Jersey police chief McCarthy to Chicago's top police job shortly after his first election as mayor in 2011.
Unlike McCarthy, Escalante has risen through the police department ranks. Formerly the 14th District Commander, he was recently named the first deputy superintendent following the retirement of Alfonza Wysinger, who was the highest-ranking African American in CPD, according to NBC.
Escalante has had many different roles during his 29 years with the force, including: chief of detectives, deputy chief of patrol for Area North and commander of the bomb and arson unit.
He has a tough job ahead of him as Emanuel's determined to rebuild the trust between the police and the community.
"This is not the end of the problem, but it is the beginning of the solution to the problem," Emanuel said in a message to Escalante Tuesday, according to NBC. "There are systematic challenges that will require sustained reforms."
Escalante, who is Hispanic, was considered a possible candidate for superintendent after Jody Weis left office in 2011, according to the Tribune.