DeKalb County Public Safety Director Cedric Alexander interviewed with Chicago’s mayor over the weekend, a likely final step before that city’s next police superintendent is named.
According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Alexander is the "overwhelming front-runner" thanks to key endorsements from Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and former Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard. A decision could come as early as Thursday
Alexander confirmed he met twice with embattled mayor Rahm Emanuel but declined comment.
The Sun-Times, citing City Hall sources, said Alexander, 61, is the only one of the three finalists being seriously considered by Emanuel. If Alexander doesn’t get the job, the paper reports, the mayor would start the search anew.
But that's unlikely, considering Emanuel's staggeringly low approval rating, making him, according to Chicago magazine, "the least popular mayor" in the city's modern history. Emanuel's support hemorrhaged after he sought to keep police dashboard camera video private following the October 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald, a black teen shot 16 times by a white officer.
The city’s previous police superintendent, Garry McCarthy, was fired in December after Emanuel said he had become a “distraction.”
Alexander took over in DeKalb three years ago but, soon after, began looking elsewhere.
In December 2013 he was considered a leading contender to return to Rochester, New York, where he had previously served as police chief. Alexander’s resume includes stints as a Miami-Dade County police officer, deputy commissioner of the New York State Police and security director for the Transportation Security Administration at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
His national profile was raised was named to President Barack Obama’s 21st Century Task Force, where he served along with Ramsey. The Sun-Times reported Ramsey and Hillard, Chicago’s former top cop, were impressed with Alexander’s grasp of modern policing concepts and strong relationships he’s fostered with the community and rank and file.
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