WEST TOWN — Melissa Staples, a former Near West police commander who was reassigned in April, has been promoted to a deputy chief as part of the Chicago Police Department's effort to bring diversity within its senior command ranks "to a historic level," interim Superintendent John J. Escalante announced Sunday.
Staples, a 25-year department veteran who holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University in Public Policy and Administration, will now be "responsible for operational oversight of police districts in the northern section of Chicago," Escalante said.
Staples' promotion is part of a series of sweeping changes Escalate said were designed to create the "most diverse police command staff" in the department's history, with half of police chiefs and half of deputy chiefs now African American and more women serving in executive leadership roles.
“These men and women represent the very best of the Chicago Police Department, and I know they will continue to serve our city and our residents with honor," said Escalante.
Escalante said that having the most diverse leadership team in department history will be a fact that will "aid the community engagement and partnerships that are critical to our public safety efforts."
Escalante took over the department after Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired former Supt. Garry McCarthy after officials were forced to released a dashcam video showing a police officer shoot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, killing him.
Escalante's replacement is scheduled to be announced in February.
Staples, who earns an annual salary of $162,684, according to city records, is currently in her 25th year of service to the Chicago Police Department and has worked in the Patrol Division, Organized Crime Division and the Detective Bureau. She has served the Department in a supervisor capacity as a Tactical and Gang Sergeant, a Tactical Lieutenant, Commanding Officer the Area Four Detective Division and the Department’s Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Before being tapped to lead the Near West District at 1412 S. Blue Island Ave. in 2012, Staples, who was a familiar presence at Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meetings, previously served as a commander in the North Side's 17th District.
"I don't consider myself another player. I think that I was chosen for this for a reason and I'm going to do the best I can," Staples said in December 2012, when she vowed to crack down on gangs and "increase intelligence, rather than just driving around."
Staples, who also lives in the West Town area, helped to lead a team that arrested a prominent Satan Disciples gang member two months after taking charge. She was replaced by Cmdr. Ed Kulbida.
Kim Shepherd, a CAPS administrator for Beat 1221, said Monday that she was happy to hear about Staples' promotion. "I'm glad to see more women in higher roles. We saw what a good hands-on commander [Staples] was. She is one of those people that leads by example and the example she sets is excellent," Shepherd said.
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