Wednesday, Chicago City Council voted to confirm Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s appointment of David O. Brown as the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Today’s confirmation follows a months-long, nationwide search process by the Chicago Police Board for the position of Superintendent, in which Brown was selected by the Board as one of three finalists that were submitted to the Mayor for her selection.
“In David Brown, this city is not only getting a public servant of the highest order but we a man whose values and own lived experience make him ideally suited for the long-term challenges we are working to solve,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “I have every confidence that David Brown will be the kind of leader who will continue our gains in fighting crime, bridge existing divides between Police and community, embrace Constitutional policing as a core ethos, and make the Chicago Police Department the finest in the nation.”
Serving from 2010 to 2016, Brown became the longest-serving Police Chief in the history of Dallas, leading the city to become a national leader in policing reforms as the Dallas Police Department became the first in the United States to institute department-wide de-escalation training for officers. Additionally, as Chief, Brown implemented implicit bias training, brought body cameras to Dallas and instituted reforms that expanded mental wellness supports for officers, increased diversity within the Department and published never-before-released use-of-force and officer-involved shooting data.
“I am humbled and honored to serve as the 63rd Chicago Police Superintendent. This is a wonderful city. I am proud to call Chicago my new home,” said Superintendent David O. Brown. “Being chosen as Superintendent is a great responsibility, and I take my responsibilities seriously. My goal is to make Chicago the safest big city in the country.”
On July 7, 2016, Brown was thrust into the national spotlight after a lone gunman shot and killed four Dallas police officers, one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer, and injured seven more officers and two civilians during a peaceful protest march in downtown Dallas. Following the national tragedy, Brown’s leadership helped heal a grieving city and bridge a gap between the city’s officers and the communities they serve.
“David Brown’s nationally-recognized leadership in transparency, accountability and community policing is what this city needs right now,” said Alderman Chris Taliaferro, Chair of the Public Safety Committee. “I have full confidence that he will serve honorably alongside Chicago’s 13,000 police officers, and further build on the Department’s reform efforts that continue to make this city safer and the Chicago Police Department stronger.
Over the past several weeks, Superintendent Brown has worked closely with Chief Charlie Beck, former CPD Interim Superintendent, and First Deputy Superintendent Riccio on the Department’s ongoing public health efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 while also sustaining citywide crimefighting operations to prevent and reduce crime in Chicago. Additionally, Superintendent Brown has visited local police districts to meet with officers and has hosted virtual meetings with community leaders, clergy, aldermen and advocates to hear the concerns and priorities of Chicago’s residents.
Out of 25 applicants, Brown was one of three finalists selected by the Chicago Police Board as part of the nationwide search process for the position of Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. He attended the University of Texas, received a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Business Administration from Amberton University
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