Jody Weis, Chicago’s new police superintendent, made appearances on a couple of local television shows Sunday and discussed getting acclimated. Since he took over Feb. 1, things in the city have been relatively quiet. Not surprisingly, during Sunday’s vis
The latter is something the city’s Black community is eager to learn. Weis need only to look to veteran Deputy Superintendent of Patrol Charles Williams to fill the first deputy spot. Williams is a proven street cop and administrator. Initially he was in the running for the superintendent’s job. Even after Williams (and others) were snubbed by Mayor Richard M. Daley, Williams continued to serve with the same dedication that has moved him up the ranks.
Williams also will be vital to Weis who said he wants a series of meetings with community leaders. The new superintendent might not be aware of how many selfappointed community leaders there are. With Williams as his right hand, Weis will easily be able to discern the wannabes from the legitimate leaders. The African American community welcomes a less tense relationship with the city’s police department.
Weis said he is looking forward to restoring community trust. Williams, who has a stellar reputation in the Black community, can put Weis on that track. Weis will not be able to visit parts of the West Side and engage residents the way Williams can. Nor will the new superintendent immediately have the insights on solving some of the community’s drug dealing and violence crimes. A career FBI agent, Weis also is entrusted with removing unsavory elements within the department.
Chicagoans have had ring side seats to instances of local cops acting above the law – once by blocking the news media access to one of their own following a court hearing, and the same cop has been shown internationally on video pummeling a waitress. And those incidents are mild compared to the number of police related shootings on the city’s South and West Sides last year.
Restoring community trust and getting 35th Street and Michigan Avenue in order are monumental tasks; and the sooner Weis can bring about either, the sooner his credibility star will rise. Trying to accomplish these things with a less experienced second-in-command, or someone like Weis, who has no experience within the department, will stymie any initiatives aimed at improvement.
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