Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis says the city needs to be prepared for the potential retirements of up to 1,000 officers next year.

Weis says he's "extremely nervous" about the number of officers who may leave the department once a new contract is signed in 2010.

About 1,000 officers are eligible to retire next year, and police officials say it's impossible to predict how many will step down.

The police department has 600 vacancies and is 2,000 officers short of its authorized strength.

Still, Weis says he's confident the city would be protected. He says there are hundreds of people in the pipeline to replace retiring officers.

It takes about six months for new hires to graduate from the police academy and start street patrol