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Wisconsin-based 'Cheesehead Revolution' challenged by Trump

CHICAGO (AP) — As speculation swirls about who will be Chicago's next top cop, a finalist for the post said Sunday that Mayor Rahm Emanuel offered him the job a few days ago, but then phoned Saturday night to say he was "going in a different direction." An aide to Emanuel on Sunday denied that Cedric Alexander was ever offered the job as Chicago's police superintendent. Alexander, the public safety director in Georgia's DeKalb County, told The Associated Press that the mayor offered him the job Thursday during a meeting in Washington, D.C., and that the mayor said he intended to make Chicago Police Department Chief of Patrol Eddie Johnson his first deputy. Alexander, who was one of three finalists the Chicago Police Board had recommended for the post, told AP the plan was for him to fly to Chicago on Monday and that the announcement would come Wednesday, but then Emanuel called Saturday night to call it off. "He did offer me the position in D.C. on Thursday, and last night he called and said he's going in a different direction," Alexander said. NBC5 in Chicago first reported that Alexander said he'd been offered the position. Alexander told AP he doesn't know which candidate the mayor has chosen instead. "I would like to thank the Chicago Police Board for giving me the opportunity to apply," Alexander said. "Clearly the mayor is going in another direction, and I would just like to wish the very best for the people of Chicago." The mayor's office has said Emanuel will announce his decision within days. Emanuel could also appoint a new interim superintendent and ask the board for a fresh list of finalists. Chicago City Council's black caucus said last week that they would prefer a local African-American. But they stopped short of endorsing Eugene Williams, a black deputy chief in Chicago who is among three police board recommendations. Anne Kirkpatrick, former police chief in Spokane, Washington, also is a finalist. On Sunday, Police Board President Lori E. Lightfoot said the board "has not received formal communication from the mayor regarding the three nominees it submitted" for the position. "The board will be taking no action until it receives such notification." Lightfoot said the board would have "no further comment." Emanuel is trying to replace Superintendent Garry McCarthy whose firing was part of a frantic effort to regain trust in the police department and his own leadership since the release last November of the video that shows Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times. Van Dyke has been charged with first-degree murder and the video has prompted investigations, including a federal civil rights probe of the department. ___ Associated Press writer Kate Brumback in Taos, New Mexico, contributed to this report.

Speculation builds about mayor's Chicago police decision