When you have problems in an organization it's not uncommon to bring in outside help. It makes sense.
If the problems in an organization appear to be systemic, why recruit from a body of candidates who are in the system?
That's a big reason the NYPD recruited Lee Brown as their police chief several years ago. He had been very successful in Houston as their chief and was able to basically replicate that success in New York.
Maybe the CPD will experience some positive changes by bringing in someone from the outside who has a strong knowledge of police work but doesn't carry the baggage of being hampered by internal politics.
Let's remember the key element in this discussion is "scandal-scarred Chicago Police Department."
The big "scandal" is how the HIs Honor the Mayor never seems to know when his and people are creating a scandal.
If you look way back, early on in his 1st term as Mayor, he came out with a report and stated that according to his investigation, there is no co organized crime to be found in the CPD.
OK, it's disorganized crime. The organized crime can be found in the "Trucks for Hire" scandal, the CIty Hall Employee Hiring Scandal, scandalin the Water Department, scandal in the Sewer Department (Surprise?).
And let's not even go near the "Traffic Management" illegal/fraudulant parking ticket scandal practiced and perpetrated on cab drivers even as you read this post!
Now that's real fraud George, not imaginary as some of us have been accused of.