CHICAGO — Chicago's top cop on Tuesday shook up his command staff in a strategic move to put his best bosses in the most violent districts to stem shooting violence and improve community policing strategies.
In all, Supt. Garry McCarthy reassigned seven commanders as part of an ongoing overhaul that so far has replaced 19 of the department's 23 commanders since he was appointed by
Mayor Rahm Emanuel last year.
The most significant change puts gang unit Cmdr. Joe Gorman in charge of the Deering District, where warring gangs have contributed to increased shootings and murders.
Moving Gorman into the district mirrors the move to install former gang unit Cmdr. Leo Schmitz to the top job in the Englewood District, which has since seen a decline in gun violence.
“These changes are all a part of the internal mechanisms we have put in place, and continue to do so, to enhance accountability and legitimacy of the Chicago Police Department. We are putting the right people in the right places to lead the Department,” McCarthy said. “That’s why we chose Cmdr. Joe Gorman, who, like Leo Schmitz, is one of our foremost gang experts, and one of our best and brightest commanders, to lead a district experiencing gang violence.”
Gorman will replace Cmdr. David Jarmusz, who will take over the Mass Transit Unit.
In other moves:
* Central District Cmdr. Chris Kennedy will head the Gang Investigations Division.
* Albany Park District Cmdr. Melissa Staples was appointed to head the Monroe District, which is being merged with the neighboring Wood District.
* Former Mass Transit Unit boss, Cmdr. John Graeber took over the Central District, one of the city's busiest.
* Executive Officer, Captain James Jones, was promoted to acting commander of the Lincoln District. McCarthy said the move was in "recognition for his role driving down shooting incidents and murders in the district."
* Cmdr. Lucy Moy-Bartoski was appointed executive officer overseeing the transformation of the department's community policing strategy.
