FBI’s Philadelphia chief named Chicago’s top cop

The special-agent-in-charge of the FBI's Philadelphia division was named superintendent of the Chicago Police Department today.

J.P. "Jody" Weis, who took the top FBI job in Philadelphia in June 2006, was named to head Chicago's police force by Mayor Richard Daley.

He takes over a large police department wracked by scandal and allegations of excessive force, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Weis replaces Chicago Superintendent Philip J. Cline, who is retiring after four years on the job. Daley spent at least six months reviewing candidates.

Weis' departure was not unexpected. He had said that Philadelphia was likely his last FBI post. An FBI agent for 22 years, Weis becomes eligible for full retirement benefits on Dec. 10, when he turns 50.

During Weis' 18-month tenure as senior agent here, he supervised several high-profile cases, including the arrest of State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo on fraud charges and six foreign-born Muslims in South Jersey for an alleged plot against soldiers Fort Dix.

Weis also often spoke of the FBI's relationship with the Philadelphia police department, particularly efforts to chase fugitives of violent crime.

Seven years ago, Weis worked briefly as assistant-agent-in-charge of the FBI's Chicago office. Later, while working as deputy assistant director at headquarters, Weis was involved in a controversial decision to suspend a Chicago-based agent who had publicly criticized the bureau's anti-terror efforts.

Weis, a former Army explosives expert, first worked for the FBI in Houston, Washington and Phoenix. Before he came to Philadelphia, Weis was the second-ranking FBI agent in Los Angeles.

FBI headquarters has not yet named a replacement, said FBI spokeswoman Jerri Williams.

The Weis announcement came one day before the expected retirement of the longtime chief of the FBI's corruption unit, James K. Welch.