CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced Elena Gottreich will serve as the City of Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Public Safety. Gottreich, who currently serves as the Deputy Director of Prosecutorial Strategies at the Chicago Police Department (CPD), brings her demonstrated track record of strategy building and community engagement to the role of Deputy Mayor. She will serve a vital role within the administration to advance the mayor’s long-term public safety agenda. Gottreich will take over the role effective August 1, succeeding John O’Malley who will remain in the role until July 31 after serving as the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety since 2021.

"The safety of our residents and communities continues to be a top priority for my administration, and we will further enhance that safety with Elena Gottreich leading our work," said Mayor Lightfoot. "Elena's institutional knowledge of law enforcement and the law profession, combined with her leadership abilities, will be invaluable to my team and our city as a whole. While I congratulate Elena on becoming Chicago's Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, I also want to thank John O'Malley for his years of hard work, dedication, and leadership and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Elena Gottreich currently serves as the Deputy Director of Prosecutorial Strategies. She brings her 13+ years of experience as both a prosecutor for Chicago as well as the federal government to help improve the efficacy of case strategy within the Chicago Police Department. Her work at CPD also focuses on developing gun trafficking interdiction strategies and ensuring community involvement in policing. As Deputy Director, Gottreich acts as a liaison for federal agencies, city leaders, and police officers to improve the overall effectiveness of Chicago Police Department strategies to combat endemic violence.

"Compassion for all Chicagoans and law enforcement alike is critical to both public safety and a trusting, honest relationship between City Hall and its people,” said Elena Gottreich. “As Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, I am extremely motivated to ensure peace in our city. I am humbled to be in this role, and look forward to creating a bright, safe, and healthy future for all Chicagoans."

Prior to her role at the Chicago Police Department, Gottreich served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney on the Violent Crime Task Force. At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gottreich investigated, prosecuted, and tried complex violent crimes and undercover operations. She also coordinated efforts between a variety of stakeholders to facilitate hearings and negotiations at each stage of the trial process.

At the County level, Gottreich served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. In her role, she led local law enforcement stakeholders in developing a strategic initiative to curb the root causes of criminal activity in the most violent districts. She also navigated the unprecedented resource and budget constraints to prosecute and supervise a caseload of over 300 felony cases.

Gottreich holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Emory University and a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. 

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