Gilberts names 40-year veteran interim police chief

A former police chief with more than 40 years of service has been named interim chief in Gilberts.

Nicholas Weiss, 63, of Joliet, replaces Mike Joswick, who served as Gilberts' police chief for 13 years. The village board last week demoted Joswick to the role of lieutenant due to philosophical differences, Village President Rick Zirk said at the time.

"Chief Weiss brings considerable experience to the position," Zirk said in a prepared statement. "His knowledge will greatly help our discussions about the community's expectations of its police department."

Weiss most recently served as police chief in Lincolnwood before retiring in 2008. Before that he was chief in Midlothian and River Forest. His career began in 1968 as a patrol officer in Joliet.

Weiss took the helm today in Gilberts and will be introduced to the community at a village board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

"I was interested when the position came open," Weiss said. "It's a temporary basis, it's not permanent. But the village expects me to be the chief of police until a permanent chief is picked. They have asked for my personal evaluation of the department, which I will give them."

The village will pay Weiss $2,520 per two-week pay period. The contract is set to expire Oct. 11 but may be terminated earlier if a permanent chief is appointed, Village Administrator Ray Keller said in a release.

To fill the interim position, the village worked with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, which matches retired police chiefs and communities seeking a short-term replacement.

The association was also brought in to evaluate the candidate pool and recommend finalists for a permanent appointment. Weiss said he has not submitted his name for consideration.