Chicago police get a shake-up

CHICAGO - The city's new police superintendent is replacing 21 of 25 district commanders in an attempt to overhaul a department whose image was marred by allegations of misconduct.

During a swearing-in ceremony yesterday, Superintendent Jody Weis, who formerly led the FBI's Philadelphia office, said he recognized that some were calling his move the biggest department housecleaning in decades.

"I'm not sure that is true," Weis said. "But my No. 1 priority has always been to create an atmosphere of excellence with a team of proven leaders who will bring a new vision, new ideas and the positive role models for the men and women of this department."

The changes take effect tomorrow. Weis assumed the top job earlier this year.

Mayor Richard M. Daley charged Weis with rebuilding public trust and said the new superintendent had his blessing to make changes in the department of 13,500 officers.

Weis' predecessor, Phil Cline, announced his retirement last year amid allegations of excessive force, barroom brawls involving off-duty officers, and a scandal in a disbanded gang-and-drug unit.

The commanders who are being replaced can stay on the force in other positions or retire, Weis said, asserting that the move "shouldn't be seen as me trying to push anybody out."

"With today's promotional ceremony," he said, "we have stepped out of the shadow of tradition because this is truly a defining moment for the Chicago Police Department."

Weis recently said that a police officer accused in the videotaped beating of a female bartender should be fired and that his department had a "commitment to root out bad cops."

Yesterday, his new chief of internal affairs said the department likely would move more quickly than it has in the past to discipline officers who have acted improperly. "It's very important that when you have sustained instances of misconduct that the punishment . . . whether it's separation or suspension, be quick, be fair," Tina Skahill said after the ceremony.