Former police Supt. Jody Weis. (Credit: CBS)
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CHICAGO (CBS) — Former police Supt. Jody Weis has a new job that will keep him in Chicago.
The Chicago Crime Commission announced Tuesday morning that Weis will be named as the new deputy director for the organization.
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Weis is set to appear at a news conference Wednesday morning, where he will talk about his plans to address crime in the city, and, the commission says, “enhance Chicago’s image and social viability.”
He also plans to focus on addressing the root causes of crime in the city – which the commission identifies as gangs, guns and drugs.
Weis resigned March 1 when his contract as police superintendent expired. Former Supt. Terry Hillard took over on an interim basis, before new Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s pick, Garry McCarthy, assumed the post.
Weis took over as police superintendent in 2008 after 22 years at the FBI. He was appointed after Supt. Phil Cline resigned in the wake of a scandal sparked by Officer Anthony Abbate, who was caught on surveillance video brutally beating a female bartender half his size at a bar on West Belmont Avenue.
But soon after Weis took over, he drew sharp criticism from rank-and-file officers, who felt he wasn’t on their side.
Among Weis’ most unpopular decisions among the rank-and-file was subjecting Officer Bill Cozzi to a new federal prosecution and prison time after the officer had already been convicted and sentenced to probation for beating a man in a wheelchair.
In September of last year, hundreds of rank-and-file officers marched outside of Police Headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan Ave., demanding that Weis be let go.
But Weis always maintained that the streets were safer after he took over, and pointed out that homicides were at their lowest level in 45 years last year. He also had his supporters in City Hall.
