Philly's Top Cop Eyeing to Replace Weis

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 14, 2011 2:00PM

The Sun-Times' Fran Spielman reported late last week that Philadelphia Police Department Commissioner Charles Ramsey is open to replacing Jody Weis as Chicago's top cop, but only if he has assurances from Mayor-elect Emanuel that he's his pick for the job. A Ramsey source tells Spielman:

“If Rahm called and asked him to become superintendent, he would. But, he doesn’t want to go through that, `Beg me, hire me’ routine after being burned twice before. He loves Philadelphia. He has a strong relationship with his mayor” that he does not want to jeopardize just to round out the Chicago Police Board’s list of three finalists."

Ramsey was a longtime Chicago police officer who was responsible for implementing the CAPS program. He resigned from the department in 1998 after Mayor Daley selected Terry HIllard as Superintendent. Prior to taking over the top cop job in Phily three years ago, Ramsey was the police chief in Washington, DC.

Emanuel, for what it's worth, thinks Ramsey is well-qualified for the job, but will follow the hiring process in place to select a new superintendent. In an interview with Spielman, Emanuel said he'll have to wait for the Police Board to conduct its nationwide search, then offer its three finalists.

As far as the rank-and-file is concerned, Second City Cop doesn't seem too enthused in hearing of Ramsey's interest in the job.