Superintendent Larry Snelling has tapped Bureau of Detectives Chief Antoinette Ursitti as the Chicago Police Department’s first deputy superintendent, putting a familiar insider in the department’s second in command seat. Kevin Bruno, who has been serving as deputy chief in the detectives bureau, will move into Ursitti’s old job leading detectives as part of a broader command staff reshuffle announced Tuesday.
The shake-up came in a department statement, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The statement said the promotions were based on the officers’ experience implementing strategies to combat and prevent crime in neighborhoods across the city and credited the picks to their operational know-how. The department also promoted Cmdr. Ricky Rivera to deputy chief of Area Five and elevated six other supervisors to commander posts, the newspaper reported.
Detectives Leadership Shifts Into Place
Ursitti has been leading the Bureau of Detectives and has appeared publicly on efforts such as the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, while Bruno has been a visible deputy chief focused on nonfatal shooting investigations and forensic coordination. ABC7 has shown both of them discussing the CGIC’s role, and coverage republished on Police1 has outlined their involvement in department staffing and deployment discussions.
What The Department Said
The department described Ursitti as “a purpose-driven leader who prioritizes the well-being of her fellow CPD members and the people of Chicago,” and said she will oversee day-to-day operations across the department, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The same statement named Bruno as her successor in charge of the detectives bureau and said the moves followed a review of the promoted members’ records and operational experience.
A Look Back: Why The Slot Mattered
The first deputy job was briefly filled last year when Yolanda Talley was sworn in, but she retired in October after roughly seven months in the role, ABC7 reported. The office sat empty for much of Snelling’s early tenure, and this appointment effectively closes a chapter in which the superintendent personally took on several operational responsibilities.
What This Means For CPD
The promotion lands as CPD continues working through reforms tied to a federal consent decree and as Snelling looks for steady leadership to carry out those mandates. National coverage of Snelling’s confirmation and the department’s reform obligations has provided the backdrop for why command stability and experienced investigators in senior roles are seen as crucial for both community trust and casework. The AP has noted Snelling’s focus on rebuilding morale and aligning the department with court-ordered reforms since he took over.
According to the department, Ursitti will step into first deputy duties immediately, while Bruno and the newly promoted commanders also begin their new assignments. City officials, aldermen and community groups will be watching to see whether this latest shuffle brings steadier oversight and quicker investigative results across Chicago’s neighborhoods.
