The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will meet at Malcolm X College at 6:30 p.m., and members of the public are invited to attend and learn more about the candidates before the vote.

The search began the day after Superintendent Larry Snelling retired in July. Since then, the commission has held eight public listening sessions, including one aimed specifically at young people and another conducted entirely in Spanish. The search team also convened focus groups with community organizations, reviewed comments submitted online, and drew on feedback gathered by all 18 district councils at neighborhood meetings.

A total of 46 applicants applied for the job.

According to the commission, several priorities surfaced repeatedly during the outreach: reducing violent crime, building trust between police and the communities they serve, and improving officer wellness and morale.

The finalists have not yet been publicly named. After Thursday's vote, Mayor Brandon Johnson will select his preferred candidate, and the City Council must vote on his choice before the appointment is final.

The community engagement process reflects the expanded role voters gave the commission when they approved the civilian oversight ordinance in 2021, creating a body empowered to shape public safety policy and participate in the selection of the police superintendent. The commission's finalists will now carry the weight of that community input into the mayor's office and, ultimately, onto the floor of the City Council.

Residents who want to hear from the candidates directly can attend Thursday's meeting at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.