Reducing gun violence in Chicago is a top priority for the Chicago Police Department. To support this goal, the Sue Ling Gin Foundation has announced a $15 million donation over five years to develop and implement leadership and management education for police supervisors in Chicago.
The program will focus on leadership practices, performance management, data-driven decision-making, resilience building, officer wellness, and community trust. The Civic Committee is collaborating with the University of Chicago Crime Lab to execute this initiative.
Robert Hamada, a former Dean at the Booth School of Business and trustee of the Sue Ling Gin Foundation, emphasized that investments in police management training will enhance safety and attract better candidates to policing. He said, "Corporations do this kind of continuing education all the time, but government agencies are often unable to prioritize this kind of investment."
CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling expressed gratitude for the foundation's support. "As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen safety and build trust across the city, we have to invest in the frontline supervisors who are managing day-to-day operations," he said.
The Civic Committee's Public Safety Task Force has been active on public safety issues and will partner with the Crime Lab at the University of Chicago to set up training programs for CPD. This initiative is modeled after national programs run by the Crime Lab.
Mark Hoplamazian and Eric Smith from the Civic Committee Public Safety Task Force noted that this investment aligns with Jim Crown’s vision for their task force. They are eager to work with various partners on this project.
Katie Hill from Crime Lab highlighted that gun violence affects many aspects of city life. She expressed hope that this investment would have a transformational impact beyond CPD.
Sue Ling Gin was an entrepreneur known for her philanthropy and involvement in civic organizations before her passing in 2014.
Information from this article can be found here.