Chicago City Wire

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson has chosen an officer with more than three decades of experience on the police force to lead the Chicago Police Department (CPD).

Johnson announced that Fred Waller, former chief of patrol for the CPD, will serve as the department's interim superintendent. He will take over when Johnson is sworn in on May 15.

"He is deeply committed to accountability, collaboration and excellence, which will set the tone for the entire department during this crucial interim period," Johnson said during a recent news conference, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Waller, 61, considers himself a "beat cop at heart," the Sun-Times reported. He told reporters during the news conference that he does not plan to pursue the top cop job on a permanent basis and will only serve in this capacity until a permanent replacement is found after Johnson officially takes office. 

Waller, who retired from the police force approximately three years ago, accepted the offer to return to take over for interim Superintendent Eric Carter, whose resignation takes effect on Johnson's inauguration day. His return to the Chicago Police Department comes at a time when City leaders are preparing for a surge in violent crime, which traditionally happens during the summer months.

The incoming superintendent told reporters he plans to collaborate with pastors and parents to prevent incidents like last month's downtown mayhem involving young people, which cast the city in a bad light, the Sun-Times reported.

"We have to use some innovative ways to look at it," Waller said. "I’ve had a chance to sit back on the sidelines and look at maybe some of the mistakes that we might have made in the past. We also have to include CPS [Chicago Public Schools] because many of these teens attend CPS schools.”

Johnson received more than 51% of the vote to defeat challenger Paul Vallas in an April 4 mayoral runoff election.