Chicago Police Department Nolan began his career with the
Chicago Police Department in 1945, serving as a foot patrol officer for three years before spending a decade as a robbery detective. In July 1967, James H. Conlisk Jr., two days after taking office as police superintendent, named Nolan as deputy superintendent, heading the newly created Community Services Division. Nolan had been a member for the previous 25 years. In July 1979, mayor
Jane Byrne created the position of public safety commissioner, naming Nolan its inaugural appointee.
Interim superintendent On September 1, 1979, Even before Nolan became interim superintendent, there had been a push from part of the city's African American community to get Byrne to appoint Nolan the city's first black permanent police superintendent, but she did not, instead appointing
Richard J. Brzeczek, a white man, as the next permanent chief of police. Nolan's term as interim superintendent ended on January 11, 1980, when
Richard J. Brzeczek was appointed.
Later career and nonprofit work After holding several positions with the
Cook County Sheriff's Office, in July 1986, Nolan was named the chief of the Cook County Sheriff's Police Department. Nolan served on the boards of
Loyola University Chicago, the Illinois Humane Society, and the Institute of Urban Life. ==Personal and Death ==