City hires new top cop

A former FBI agent officially became Chicago's newest police superintendent Wednesday. The city council approved Mayor Richard Daley's nomination of Jody Weis 44-1. Weis has said he'll strengthen training and work to bring public confidence back to a department shaken by allegations of brutality and misconduct. Alderman Howard Brookins said he hoped Weis would restore "the luster" lost by the department due to the actions of a few police officers. Others praised the department, citing a dropping homicide rate and efforts that have resulted in thousands of guns being taken off the street, and said that if such trends continue, Weis will have earned his $300,000-a-year salary. "If you do that, you are worth every single penny," said Alderman Isaac Carothers. Just one alderman, Pat Dowell, voted against Weis, criticizing his performance at an earlier confirmation hearing. "You didn't offer any kind of serious strategy," she said. "You spoke in generalities."