Don't change CPD superintendents now
Eric Carter should be allowed to continue as interim
Even though a nationwide search has begun to replace former Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown; there is a compelling case to leave his interim replacement where he is - leading the department.
It is understandable that political and government pundits, along with backers of Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson want and are hoping for major shakeups in the new administration they all should take a breath and take a step back. Now is not the time to look past Interim Superintedent Eric Carter, former first deputy superintendent, as the one for the job. It is debatable whether he should keep the job permanently, there should be no squabble about him staying there for several months or longer.
The case for Carter continuing his interim role hinges on his history and a few external factors. Chief among those factors is that by the time Johnson takes office Chicago will be butting against summer. There is an abundance of data that shows summer is when violence takes a steady rise in the city. Mid-may or early June is not the time to be introducing a new CPD head and asking her or him to implement an anti-violence strategy.
Additionally, the department is still operating under a federal consent decree click here to read about the consent decree The city can’t not afford an interruption in addressing getting the department from under that decree. To bring in someone with no CPD background would generate a huge interruption.
Any fair assessment of Carter’s role can’t overlook the fact that he has a history of service awards, as well as been a team member of task forces with the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency. However, it is a double-edge sword of sorts that Carter is in place. It is likely there won’t be the precipitous drop in morale like we witnessed when outside cops were brought in to lead the department.
The other side of the double-edge sword is Carter has been with the department 30 years. It means he was trained in some of the worst practices CPD has ever employed- department records show he has had a handful of allegations against him, but only one was substantiated.
Thirty years on the force also translates into the fact Carter has seen some of the horrendous behaviors carried out by officers. Not to suggest he witnessed it firsthand, but it defies logic to think he was unaware of it Hopefully, that means that now he is in charge he will curb those kinds of behavior, if not stop many of them altogether. That is a hope more than an expectation.