More Shake Ups at Chicago Police Department as the Black Community Shakes the Department Down
The announcement came on the same day that Johnson recommended that seven officers be fired for lying as part of an alleged cover up after Officer Jason Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times in October 2014. But there was no indication the two events were connected except that some of the players had some supervisory responsibilities in the McDonald shooting.
Among the nearly dozen changes, Johnson announced Kevin Navarro, a deputy chief, would succeed John Escalante as first deputy superintendent, the department's second-ranking post. Escalante, who served as the chief of detectives at the time of the McDonald shooting, announced his retirement earlier this week to become chief of police for Northeastern Illinois University.
In another high-profile move, Johnson announced Eugene Roy was stepping down as chief of detectives as he approaches 63, the department's mandatory retirement age. At the time of the McDonald shooting, Roy served as commander of the Area Central detective bureau, overseeing the detectives and supervisors who conducted interviews and compiled police reports in the case.
But neither Escalante nor Roy were among the police personnel cited in a report by city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson that looked into the alleged coverup in the McDonald case and led to the recommended firings of the seven officers, a source said.
Navarro, who has more than 30 years with the department, is currently deputy chief of patrol operations for several violence-plagued districts that occupy much of the South Side. He served a brief stint as commander of the Area South detective bureau, overseeing detectives that investigate violent and property crimes in those neighborhoods. He also was the patrol commander of the South Chicago District, encompassing the South Shore, South Chicago and Hegewisch neighborhoods, and the Grand Central District, which covers parts of the West and Northwest sides.
Melissa Staples will succeed Roy as chief of detectives. She was most recently a deputy chief of patrol assigned to police headquarters and once was a violent crimes lieutenant for the old Harrison Area detective bureau, overseeing homicide and shooting investigations on much of the West Side. She's also served as a commander for the Albany Park District, overseeing beat patrols and tactical teams throughout the Northwest Side and the Near West District, which covers the West Loop and Pilsen areas, and neighborhoods around the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Other key appointments include James Jones, who will become Staples' second-in-command as deputy chief of detectives after serving as deputy chief of the crime-ridden Harrison District on the West Side. Larry Watson, commander of the South Side's Englewood District, was promoted to Navarro's post as deputy chief of patrol of Area South.
James O'Donnell was promoted as a deputy chief of street operations after heading the Southwest Side's Chicago Lawn patrol district. He served as commander of Chicago Lawn at the time of the McDonald shooting and was in charge of a couple of hundred patrol officers, including Van Dyke, who is awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges in connection with McDonald's death.
Chief of Detectives - Melissa Staples
First Deputy Superintendent - Kevin Navarro
Cmdr of Patrol Area Central - Frank Valdez
Cmdr of Patrol - Area South - PENDING
Cmdr 002 - Crystal King
Cmdr 005 - Varrick Douglas
Cmdr 006 - Bill Bradley
Cmdr 007 - Ken Johnson
Cmdr 008 - Ron Pontecore
Cmdr 010 - Jimmy Sanchez
Cmdr 011 - Kevin Johnson
Cmdr Vice - PENDING
Cmdr Public Transit - Cindy Samm
Cmdr Detectives Area Central - Brendan Deenihan
Cmdr Detectives Area South - Rodney Blissett
Cmdr Airport - Thomas O'Brien
Deputy Chief of Detectives - James Jones
Deputy Chief of Patrol - George Devereux
Deputy Chief of Organized Crime - Dana Alexander
Deputy Chief of Patrol Area South - Lawrence Watson
Deputy Chief of Special Functions - Eric Carter
Deputy Chief of Detached Services - Steven Georgas
Deputy Chief Street Operations - Terrence Williams
Deputy Chief Street Operations - James O'Donnell
Deputy Chief Street Operations - Kenneth Angarone
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