Jan 9, 2008 5:10 pm US/Central
Weis Confirmed As Police Superintendent
Former Philadelphia FBI Special Agent In Charge Approved 44-1
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Jody Weis, Mayor Daley's nominee for Chicago's new police superintendent, has been confirmed.
CBS
A former FBI agent is now the police superintendent in Chicago. Jody Weis was confirmed by the City Council Wednesday, 44-1.
As CBS 2's Jim Williams reports, Weis is an outsider in more ways than one. He has never been a police officer, and he comes to Chicago from Philadelphia, where he ran that city's FBI office.
So Weis says his first order of business will be to get to know the city -- its leaders and community groups, and the thousands of men and women he'll lead.
"I'm the new guy in town," Weis said. "I recognize that. They're apprehensive. The best way for people to get to know is a little bit more of an informal process."
Alderman Pat Dowell was the only council member to cast a "no" vote on the confirmation of Mayor Richard M. Daley's nominee.
"You didn't offer any kind of serious strategy," Dowell said to Weis. "You spoke in generalities."
"I really applaud her for voting her conscience," Weis later said. "And she's going to be one of the first persons I reach out to. She has some viable concerns."
Weis inherits what he calls a great police department. But its image has been tarnished with scandal and video evidence of brutality.
"We have to make sure our officers are trained and re-trained and make sure they know when to back off," Weis said. "When the cuffs are on, then you're responsible for his or her well-being."
Weis starts his new job on February 1. His confirmation Wednesday came as the City Council agreed to pay $19 million to four men who said they were tortured by former police commander Jon Burge and the officer under his command. Weis called the allegations against the officers "despicable."
Weis was chosen to replace Police Superintendent Phil Cline, who announced his retirement last year amid those police scandals.
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