The Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling has announced his retirement after serving on the force for 34 years.
He wrote a statement letters and is scheduled to retired on July 15th, 2026.
This comes just over a month after former Chief of Patrol John Heins retired.
ALTHOUGH I MET YOU 1 TIME AND SHOOK YOUR HAND, THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT SNELLING FOR YOUR SERVICES AND LEADERSHIP 🫡🤝 MAY GOD BLESS YOUR PATH & FUTURE
Chicago’s top cop Larry Snelling announces retirement
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling announced Wednesday that he is retiring, capping a more than three-decade career with the department — just one day after unveiling sweeping changes to his command staff and naming a new second-in-command.
In a letter addressed to “my fellow Chicagoans,” Snelling wrote: “After more than 30 years of service within the Chicago Police Department, I have made the difficult decision to retire on July 15, 2026.”
Snelling, a native Chicagoan who joined CPD in 1992 as a patrol officer in Englewood, rose through the ranks over the following decades, serving as a training academy instructor, a sergeant in the 22nd District, a lieutenant and commander in the 7th District, deputy chief of Area Two, and chief of counterterrorism before being sworn in as superintendent on September 27, 2023.
In his farewell letter, Snelling reflected on his career and thanked Mayor Brandon Johnson for the opportunity to lead the department. “Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to give back to the city I love through different assignments across the department,” he wrote. “I must also thank Mayor Brandon Johnson for choosing me to serve the residents of Chicago and to lead the heroic men and women of the Chicago Police Department.”
The announcement comes as something of a reversal. As recently as May, Snelling had publicly dismissed retirement rumors, telling reporters at a City Club appearance, “I’m going to be here as long as I have to be here, or until it’s time, like any other profession.”
During his tenure, Chicago recorded its lowest homicide levels in roughly six decades, even as the department navigated major challenges including security for the 2024 Democratic National Convention and a series of high-profile “teen takeover” incidents downtown.
Mayor Johnson announced that police veteran Fred Waller will once again step in as acting superintendent while a formal search is conducted for Snelling’s permanent successor.
This is a developing story. ChitownCrimechasers-CCC will provide updates as more details emerge.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
