- Potential applicants could come from the top ranks, including Assistant Superintendent James Jackson; Deputy Superintendent Ernest Brown; Eugene Williams, a chief; Thomas Byrne, chief of detectives; Nick Roti, chief of the organized crime division; Joe Patterson, a deputy chief in the organized crime division; John Escalante, deputy chief of Area 5; and Al Wysinger, a deputy chief in the detective division.
Other possibilities include former top insiders such as Hiram Grau and Charles Williams, who were finalists for superintendent when Weis was hired, as well as Charles Ramsey, who was a finalist when Hillard was selected in 1998. Ramsey, who is police commissioner in Philadelphia, said Wednesday that he has not been contacted by Emanuel's transition team.
Another is Michael Shields, a former deputy superintendent who is head of security for Chicago Public Schools and has drawn attention because he is a cousin of first lady Michelle Obama.
No females on the list, so Jennifer Beals is out. But aside from that, a whole bunch of potential baggage on the list.