Chicago Police Chief Walks on Last Day of Contract

(With additional reporting from the Associated Press)

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis is leaving his job immediately and won't stay on for two more months as Mayor Richard Daley had asked him to do.

Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale confirmed the move Tuesday and says former Superintendent Terry Hillard will take over in the interim.

The embattled Weis is a former FBI agent who was hired by Daley three years ago. He's known for months that none of the major mayoral candidates, including Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel, planned to extend his contract.

Daley on Monday told reporters he hoped Weis would stay until Daley's term ends in May. But Weis, whose 3-year contract ends Tuesday, decided to leave immediately after he was not given a written contract extension.

When it came to replacing Weis, Daley turned to former Superintendent Terry Hillard.

Hillard was police superintendent from 1998 to 2003. He served with the police department for 35 years before retiring in 2003. He became the department's first black chief of detectives in 1995, holding that position until he was promoted to superintendent.

Hillard is currently a partner at Hillard Heintze, a private security and investigations firm. He will take a leave of absence from his company.

Daley says Hillard will serve as interim superintendent beginning Wednesday until the end of Daley's term in May.

(Photo courtesy of Illinois Public Radio)