The Chicago Police Board missed its initial deadline for making candidate recommendations as part of its search for the city's next police superintendent.

The board initially planned to recommend three police superintended candidates to the mayor by the end of February. Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot said the panel needs additional time to review the candidates.

"We believe that getting the best candidates to lead the Chicago Police Department at this moment in time is of the utmost importance," reads a statement from Lightfoot, who added that "the board's diligence process continues and we will make our recommendations as soon as possible."

The Police Board's search for a new Chicago police chief comes after Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired Garry McCarthy from the post in December following the court-ordered release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video. Emanuel tapped CPD First Deputy John Escalante to take over as the interim police chief while the Police Board conducts its superintendent candidate search.