Samuel Nolan

Samuel W. Nolan (June 1, 1919 − September 30, 1997) was an American police officer for the Chicago Police Department who served as the interim superintendent of the department briefly from September 1, 1979

Biography Chicago Police Department Nolan began his career with the Chicago Police Department in 1945, serving as a foot patrol officer for three years before spending a decade as a robbery detective.

In July 1967, James H. Conlisk Jr., two days after taking office as police superintendent, named Nolan as deputy superintendent, heading the newly created Community Services Division.

Nolan had been a member for the previous 25 years. In July 1979, mayor Jane Byrne created the position of public safety commissioner, naming Nolan its inaugural appointee.

Interim superintendent On September 1, 1979, Even before Nolan became interim superintendent, there had been a push from part of the city's African American community to get Byrne to appoint Nolan the city's first black permanent police superintendent, but she did not, instead appointing Richard J. Brzeczek, a white man, as the next permanent chief of police. Nolan's term as interim superintendent ended on January 11, 1980, when Richard J. Brzeczek was appointed.

Later career and nonprofit work After holding several positions with the Cook County Sheriff's Office, in July 1986, Nolan was named the chief of the Cook County Sheriff's Police Department. Nolan served on the boards of Loyola University Chicago, the Illinois Humane Society, and the Institute of Urban Life.

Personal and Death Nolan married his wife Agnes in March 1938 and together they had three sons; Stephen, Phillip and David. In 1993, Nolan and his wife relocated from Chicago to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Nolan died at his home in South Carolina on September 30, 1997, aged 78.