Deputy Mayor Garien Gatewood
Community Safety
City of Chicago
As the first-ever Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, Gatewood leads cross-government efforts to eradicate the root causes of crime and violence, and advance a comprehensive, healing-centered approach to public safety. The role was created by Mayor Johnson on his first day in office in one of his first executive orders. Additionally, Gatewood was appointed by Governor Pritzker to serve on the board of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the state agency that directs the development and coordination of programs designed to enhance and improve public safety.
Gatewood previously served as the Director of the Illinois Justice Project, where he successfully developed strategies to lift up youth and adults, provided support for returning residents, and helped guide policy in support of the Illinois SAFE-T Act. Prior to his time at the Illinois Justice Project, Gatewood was Director of Policy at the Juvenile Justice Initiative, a non-profit focused on legislation and policy reform for youth in Illinois. Gatewood holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jackson State University and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Mayor’s Office of Community Safety Website: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/public-safety-and-violence-reduction/home.html
