Hillard Takes Over for Weis

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 2, 2011 2:11PM

Jody Weis stepped down as Police Superintendent yesterday, the final day of a $310,000-per-year contract he signed in 2008. Weis, had requested a written contract extension to stay on as Superintendent through the end of Richard Daley's mayoral reign. But Daley was unwilling to offer it; the contract extension would have required City Council approval.

“Serving as the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department has been an honor and a great privilege,” Weis said. “I thank Mayor Daley, and the residents of Chicago, for this opportunity of a lifetime."

Weis was considered a lame duck Police Superintendent from the moment in September that Daley announced he would not seek a seventh term as mayor. Weis's hiring as Supeintendent, after Daley rejected three internal picks from the Police Board and did a runaround of the Board in ordering a second national search, was never well-received by the rank-and-file. Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel last week reiterated his intention to replace Weis once he takes office. Indeed, the anonymous police blogger behind "Second City Cop" wrote that there is once again joy in Mudville.

The whiskey and scotch are flowing tonight. We're actually drinking with the curtains open and the lights on in the bunker tonight. Every hour or so, we're peeking into the yard to make sure J-Fled isn't lurking in the alley while we enjoy a celebratory drink. We don't even care that we've got court in the morning.

Filling in for Weis until a permanent Superintendent can be named is former Police Superintendent Terry Hillard. Hillard, who served as Superintendent from 1998-2003.

Weis leaves behind a mixed legacy where, besides never being truly embraced by the rank-and-file in the department, major crimes also went down during his tenure. Homicides reduced in each of his years in office. Numbers for other major crimes also declined. But the perception remained among both rank-and-dile officers and the public that Weis was not tough enough on crime. Second City Cop called the numbers "useless number generating and has no impact aside from some useless gold star claiming 'my numbers are better than your numbers.'"