Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Sunday selected Larry Snelling as Chicago’s next top cop. Snelling heads the police department’s counter-terrorism unit. Snelling will succeed David Brown after Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost the mayoral primary in April. 

“Today, a new chapter begins in our journey to create a better, stronger, and safer Chicago,†Johnson said in a news release. 

“Chief Snelling is a proven leader who has the experience and the respect of his peers to help ensure the safety and well-being of city residents, and address the complex challenges we all face related to community safety.â€

Snelling was raised on the city’s South Side and attended its public schools. He has a bachelor’s degree in adult education from DePaul University and joined the department in 1992 as a patrol officer.

“It is a tremendous honor to answer the call to serve my hometown and the people of Chicago as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department,†Snelling said in a statement. “It is also a tremendous responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly.â€

He has been chief of the department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, which coordinates with the Office of Emergency Management and Communication and other city agencies, since 2022.