Sneed: Musical chairs at the police department

Follow @sneedlingsThe police blotter . . .

The police purge continues: Sneed hears whispers Deputy Police Chief Kevin Navarro, who oversees all the South Side police districts, is in line to become the city’s second in command.

Navarro, who had been promoted during the tenure of former top cop Garry McCarthy, would replace First Deputy Police Chief John Escalante — who announced his retirement Tuesday to become police chief of Northeastern Illinois University. Although Escalante had been negotiating with NEIU for months, his retirement was announced shortly before the release of a blistering report probing the circumstances involving the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.

• Buckshot: Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, who replaced McCarthy, was urged to fire or discipline a retinue of cops for allegedly covering up what happened or bungling the McDonald probe. Deputy Police Chief David McNaughton, who signed off on the police probe clearing the police officer of wrongdoing in the McDonald shooting, resigned Monday — the first to be forced out.

Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel were urged by the City Council’s Hispanic aldermen to replace Escalante with another Hispanic.

Stay tuned.

A Jarrett jot . . .

Memo to all political gadflies wondering if Valerie Jarrett, the first family’s BFF, is eyeing a possible Chicago mayoral bid.

Sneed hears Jarrett’s beloved daughter, Laura, is reportedly moving to Washington, D.C., as a reporter covering the U.S. Justice Department — which has prompted Jarrett to confide to friends she may not be moving back to Chicago anytime soon.

Ship of fools . . .

Ka-ching, not?

Donald Trump, who wants to appear genuine, may have named Breitbart News’ Stephen Bannon as his new “non-pivot” campaign chief executive and is now being advised by ex-FOX exec Roger Ailes, but did you know The Donald’s Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort is not being paid and that his fired, former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is still advising him?

There ya go.

Follow @sneedlingsThe Trumpettes . . .

Intermingling can be so intriguing, especially when you are rich and famous.

The Daily Mail just spotted Ivanka Trump, The Donald’s daughter and numero uno adviser, and her publisher hubby, Jared Kushner, spending part of their Croatian vacation with top Dem donor David Geffen, who is now a big, billionaire Hillary Clinton supporter.

Oh, what fun, n’est pas?

Party place . . .

The legendary Old Town staple, O’Brien’s Restaurant & Bar — which is scheduled to close up shop Aug. 31 until its rebirth two years from now in a hotel on the same site — is tossing a party for regular patrons Thursday night. “It will go back to being a piano bar for one night only,” a happy habitue said. Legendary Chicago pol Ed Kelly is expected to show up.

Tee time . . .

It used to be basketball with his buddies, but now it’s golf, golf, golf.

President Barack Obama, who used to hit the court with his basketball pals when on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, has eschewed hoops lately and now seems to be heading to the golf course full time.

He was spotted hitting the links Wednesday morning with his Chicago BFF Marty Nesbitt, along with Alonzo Mourning and Cy Walker.

Sneedlings . . .

I spy: Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Eddie Royal spotted at RPM Italian on Friday. . . . Today’s birthdays: Robert Redford, 80; Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 46, and Andy Samberg, 38.

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