4-Apr-18 – The new commander of Chicago Police Department’s 18th district has a master’s degree in psychology and comes from a police district on the city’s south side.

He was also a defendant in a federal lawsuit over an invasive strip-search of a mother of five.

Daniel O’Shea replaces Paul Bauer, who was killed on February 13.

O’Shea was executive officer in the 6th police district located in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Before that, he was a lieutenant and a sergeant in the narcotics unit of the Bureau of Organized Crime. He also worked on tactical units on the city’s west side.

In 2014, O’Shea was one of 15 Chicago police officers named in a police misconduct lawsuit that was settled, according to The Chicago Reporter, for $55,000.

Sabrina Harrison alleged that on the afternoon of January 10, 2014, without knocking, warning, or consent, police entered her apartment on South Kedzie Avenue west of the Loop, looking for illegal drugs.

They claimed to have a search warrant but, she said, did not show her the warrant. They “demanded to know where the drugs were” but Harrison denied having drugs in her home. (Left) Google Street View of 749 South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago.

She was handcuffed, wearing only a t-shirt and underwear. A female officer, Kyleen Cowie, allegedly grabbed Harrison’s arm, forcibly walked her to the bathroom, and with the door partially open, strip-searched her. According to the lawsuit, Cowie pulled Harrison’s underwear down to her ankles and ordered her to bend over and cough, four times.

They did not find any drugs, according to the lawsuit, but still took her to a police station, where she was charged with possession of a controlled substance. The charge was later dropped.

O’Shea specifically was accused in the lawsuit of failing to intervene. Harrison says he made no effort to prevent the strip-search and ignored her complaints about how she was being treated. As a supervisor, said Harrison, he “bore direct responsibility for the manner in which the other defendant officers were behaving.”

The case, filed in United States District Court on March 25, 2014, was settled without a trial.

CPD announces three promotions to commander

Three new commanders were announced on March 23 by Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. Edward Wodnicki was promoted to commander of Area Central Detectives, replacing Brendan Deeniham, who was promoted to deputy chief of the Bureau of Detectives. Jose Tirado was named commander of the 4th police district south of the Loop.

“Through their respective records of capable leadership, our new district commanders will honor the legacy of Commander Bauer by serving with honor, building lasting partnerships with the community, and helping us continue to reduce crime throughout the city,” said Johnson (right).

Minorities now account for 56 percent of police chiefs, deputy chiefs, and commanders in the Chicago Police Department and, says CPD, “more women are serving in executive leadership roles than at any previous point in the department’s history.”

Bauer (left), a 31-year veteran of Chicago Police Department, died after being shot six times outside James R. Thompson Center in the Loop. Shomari Legghette, a 44-year-old four-time felon, is charged with first-degree murder.