What makes a great Police Commissioner?

What makes a great Police Commissioner?
What makes a great Police Commissioner?

What makes a great Police Commissioner?

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It could be argued that one of the toughest jobs in any big city is Police Chief. They’re tasked with everything from setting the tone of the department and navigating the politics of the job to meeting the demands of the community and of course, keeping crime in check. It’s that last job where a group of African American aldermen say Chicago’s top cop is missing the mark. For the past couple of days, members of the city council’s Black Caucus have been calling on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to fire Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy for what they say is his failure to reduce crime in their neighborhoods. The mayor defended his CPD chief, saying the focus should be “on gangs and guns, not on Garry.” So, how much power does the police superintendent have to reduce crime? We’re joined by Michael Scott, professor of criminology and criminal justice at Arizona State University, to talk more broadly about police commissioners, what they do, and how far their powers extend.