Why Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling retired after less than three years in charge

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said he made “the difficult decision” to retire, giving what amounts to two weeks’ notice.

(Bloomberg) -- Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said he made “the difficult decision” to retire, giving what amounts to two weeks’ notice after more than three decades with the department.

Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling Retires After Less Than Three Years in charge (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool) (AP)

Snelling, 57, will depart on July 15, he announced Wednesday in a statement. He joined the Chicago Police Department in 1992 and worked as a beat cop on the city’s South Side. Mayor Brandon Johnson selected him as police chief in 2023.

Crime has trended down under Snelling’s watch, providing the third-largest US city with a measure of relief after a spike in violence in the aftermath of the pandemic. In 2025, Chicago recorded its lowest number of homicides in 60 years.

Johnson named department veteran Fred Waller as interim superintendent.

“We’re grateful for Superintendent Snelling’s dedicated leadership and the work we’ve accomplished together to advance a community safety strategy rooted in strong partnerships and deep community engagement across Chicago,” Johnson said in a statement.

--With assistance from Shruti Date Singh.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com