(CBS/AP) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made a surprise selection to be the city's next superintendent, bypassing the three finalists for the police superintendent position and picking an insider who didn't apply for the job.

The mayor's choice to be Chicago's next top cop is current Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Eddie Johnson.

In a prior news release CPD said he had more than 20 years on the force, with time spent in the bureau of detectives and patrol.

The mayor may have in part made this internal CPD choice to boost cop morale in the wake of a federal investigation into the department.

Earlier this month, the Police Board proposed candidates Eugene Williams, chief of the Bureau of Support Services at the Chicago Police Department; Cedric Alexander, public safety director of DeKalb County, Georgia; and Anne Kirkpatrick, retired police chief of Spokane, Washington.

Cedric Alexander, public safety director in Georgia's DeKalb County, told The Associated Press the mayor offered him the job Thursday. Alexander says the mayor intended to appoint Chicago Police Department Chief of Patrol Eddie Johnson as first deputy.

Alexander said Emanuel phoned him Saturday night to reverse course. Alexander said he doesn't know the mayor's pick.

By law, the mayor is supposed to pick from the Police Board's candidates.

It is believed that Emanuel will name Johnson as interim superintendent, replacing John Escalante, and then call for a new search with Johnson being on the Police Board's next list.

Mayor Emanuel isn't the first to do this kind of run around police board finalists. Mayor Daley did it as well before eventually selecting Jody Weis.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports Johnson is well regarded in the neighborhoods he's served.

"What I like about him is that he, number one, had tremendous respect by police but also by the community," said Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina.

Johnson built a sterling reputation as commander in the Sixth District, which includes the high-crime Englewood and Auburn-Gresham neighborhoods.

"If citizens had an issue, he would come out and meet with them and devise some systems in order to deal with the problems they had," said Alderman Howard Brookins. "So Eddie starts out as someone who's willing to listen and it's not all his way or the highway."

Fr. Pfleger says he talked to Johnson, who says he's honored, but realizes the big task ahead.

Andy Shaw, president and CEO of the Better Government Association, says he's puzzled by one aspect of the possible Eddie Johnson nomination.

"If Eddie Johnson has the right stuff to lead the department, I wonder why he didn't even apply," Shaw said. "Generally, if you want to lead and there is an opportunity like this you step up. Something stopped him from doing that."

Alderman Roderick Sawyer, chairman of the City Council's Black Caucus, and Alderman George Cardenas, chairman of the council's Latino Caucus released a joint statement saying, "Deputy Chief Eddie Johnson is a well-respected leader within the Chicago Police Department. As Interim Superintendent, we expect him to demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and an end to the culture that has led to the use of excessive force and the 'Blue Wall' of silence.

"We are hopeful that his leadership will help to boost morale within the CPD rank and file, and will begin to build trust and authentic communication and collaboration between the Department and our communities."

CBS 2's Sandra Torres reports announcement came as a surprise to political consultant Don Rose. He has a few theories as to why the mayor went this route but overall, he just says it could've been handled differently

"It could've been handled smoother and better but Rahm is so afraid of looking bad in light of his political weakness these days that he chose a roundabout way of doing it," Rose said. "I think the message is Rahm does what he wants, the public be damned."

Rose says if Johnson ends up doing a good job in six months to a year, the process will be forgotten. But for now, he says the process is flawed.

Reverend Jesse Jackson agrees. He spoke out about the announcement during a press conference Sunday morning.

"I don't know Mr. Johnson. I know the process is flawed already," Jackson said. "It complicates, it compounds the flaw crisis with the police department."

A spokesperson for the mayor's office said in a statement that the mayor, "has spent the past three and a half months talking to police officers, community leaders, residents and law enforcement experts about the leader our city needs right now as we work to lift morale at CPD, fight crime, and restore trust in the department."

In a statement Sunday morning, Police Board President Lori Lightfoot said, "The Police Board has not received formal communication from the Mayor regarding the three nominees it submitted for the position of Superintendent of Police. The Board will be taking no action until it receives such notification. Until then, we will have no further comment."

They mayor's office has not yet scheduled a news conference for a formal announcement.

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