Former LAPD chief Charlie Beck to be interim head of Chicago force: reports

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A retired Los Angeles police chief is expected to be named Friday as interim leader of Chicago’s force, according to reports.

Charlie Beck, 66, who left the LAPD in June 2018 after more than 40 years with the department, will replace Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who on Thursday announced he will step down at year’s end after three years as the city’s top cop.

CHICAGO TOP COP EDDIE JOHNSON RETIRING AFTER 3 YEARS AT HELM, AMID INTERNAL INVESTIGATION

Johnson, 60, a Chicago native, has been with the city’s force for more than 30 years.

Beck will spend time shadowing Johnson during a transition period, and then lead the Chicago department until Mayor Lori Lightfoot names a permanent chief, the Chicago Tribune reported.

FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2017 file photo, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles, Beck said Tuesday, March 21, 2017, that reports of sexual assault and domestic violence by Latino residents have dropped amid concerns that those in the country illegally could face deportation if they interact with police. He said that sexual assault reports have dropped 25 percent and domestic violence reports have fallen 10 percent among the city's Latino population since the beginning of the year. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

Then-Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles, March 21, 2017, (Associated Press)

In Los Angeles, Beck served under William Bratton, a former police commissioner in New York City who received credit for a dramatic reduction in Big Apple crime before moving on to California.

Beck’s time on the LAPD coincided with major tests for law enforcement, such as the 1992 riots sparked by the acquittal of L.A. officers linked to the Rodney King beating case.

Johnson’s decision to step down came as he faces an internal investigation, after being found sleeping in his car Oct. 17. The mayor later told the Chicago Sun-Times that Johnson had had “a couple of drinks” with dinner that evening.

FILE - In this April 13, 2016, file photo, Eddie Johnson, left, speaks after being sworn in as the new Chicago police superintendent in Chicago. After a month in which nearly 15 people were shot every day, Johnson announced Friday, July 1, 2016, a July 4 weekend show of force that will include thousands more officers on the streets than usual, officers toting high-powered weapons at airports and teams of officers patrolling the city's most dangerous neighborhoods, tourist attractions, train stations and parks. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Eddie Johnson has been Chicago's top cop for the past three years. (Associated Press)

His appointment to the top job by former Mayor Rahm Emmanuel came wrapped in controversy because Johnson was not one of the three candidates recommended for the position by the Chicago Police Board, and Johnson hadn’t even applied for the job.

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At the time, Emmanuel was dealing with fallout from the release of video footage that showed a white police officer shooting an unarmed black teenager 16 times, killing him. Officer Jason Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder in October 2018 in the death of Laquan McDonald.

Lightfoot, who succeeded Emmanuel as mayor in May, is a former president of the city’s police board.