In a significant initiative aimed at curbing gun violence in Chicago, the Sue Ling Gin Foundation has pledged $15 million over the next five years to train supervisors of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) in leadership and management.
The program will provide advanced education focusing on ethical leadership, data-driven decision-making, officer wellness, and community trust building—skills deemed essential for effecting long-lasting changes in policing and public safety.
The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago will receive the donation and will partner with the University of Chicago Crime Lab to develop and implement the program.
This initiative builds upon existing reforms in the CPD, which include a mandatory 40 hours of annual training for all officers.
Robert Hamada, former Dean at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a trustee of the Sue Ling Gin Foundation, remarked, “Corporations do this kind of continuing education all the time, but government agencies are often unable to prioritize this kind of investment.
The partnership involving business, academic, and non-profit sectors along with the police department showcases Chicago’s collective commitment to reducing gun violence.”
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling indicated that this contribution comes at a pivotal moment for the city.
He stated, “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.
We are deeply grateful to the Sue Ling Gin Foundation for its partnership and support in making this a reality.”
The Crime Lab’s training initiative is modeled after its Policing Leadership Academy, a national program designed to equip police commanders from high-violence districts to make informed, data-driven decisions.
The Crime Lab also administers a similar program aimed at leaders of community violence intervention groups.
The Civic Committee’s Public Safety Task Force, which will oversee this initiative, has been actively advocating for both reform and investment in public safety.
In 2023, the task force introduced a multi-faceted plan that included scaling up community violence intervention programs and bolstering support for police reform.
Co-chairs Mark Hoplamazian and Eric Smith stated, “This investment in police leadership development is exactly in line with the late Jim Crown’s vision for the Task Force.
We believe this training will help police supervisors develop their leadership skillsets and ultimately help make all of Chicago safer.”
Katie Hill, executive director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, called the investment both timely and transformative.
She noted, “Gun violence sits upstream of almost every other pressing challenge facing Chicago and other cities.
With this unprecedented, evidence-informed investment in the human capital of our police leaders, Chicago is leading the way in meeting this challenge head-on.”
Sue Ling Gin, who passed away in 2014, was a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist in Chicago.
She founded Flying Food Group and held several properties in the West Loop while also serving on various nonprofit and civic boards.
Gin was a member of both the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago.
This latest generous gift is a reflection of her ongoing legacy of civic investment and her commitment to fostering a safer and more equitable Chicago.
image source from：https://chicagodefender.com/15m-gift-from-sue-ling-gin-foundation-to-fund-police-leadership-training-in-chicago/
