WASHINGTON–Obama White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske has taken himself out of the running to become Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel’s choice as the next Chicago Police Superintendent.
The Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday reported that Garry McCarthy — the director of the Newark, N.J., police department — emerged as the favorite to become Chicago’s next top cop.
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The Sun-Times reported earlier last week that Emanuel’s three front-runners were McCarthy, Kerlikowske and Chicago police deputy chief of detectives Al Wysinger.
Chris Mather, Emanuel’s spokesman said on Sunday Kerlikowske “withdrew before he knew whether or not he was on” a short list. He is the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Kerlikowske “told the Mayor-elect “[he] weighed the importance of serving the President in the important area of drug policy and believe that [he] need[ed] to continue in this important effort,” Mather said.
“He said that he knew Rahm would understand the difficult decision he made and he wished Rahm, the City of Chicago, and (the Chicago Police Department) the very best. ”
