After 14 months as interim police chief, Gregory Weiss had the temporary title removed Monday evening by the River Forest village board. Village President John Rigas made the recommendation to the board, which approved the appointment with a unanimous vote of 6-0.
“I think the best way to describe it is relieved,” said Weiss. And grateful. Weiss said he didn’t expect this, he only hoped for it. “I got unanimous support for me being in this position. So that’s certainly good to hear.”
Village Administrator Eric Palm participated in the interview process, which began in February. He said that Weiss’ performance during the 14 months as interim helped village officials make the decision to appoint him chief.
“Everything that the village has asked him to do, he’s done, he’s embraced and done a great job doing,” said Palm. “I think he has a good vision for the department in terms of moving forward. I think he’s a good leader. He’s a good manager. He’s a good member of the management team here in the village.”
The position was advertised nationally, and of the 80 applicants, four candidates were found qualified enough to be invited for interviews, including Weiss. In the end, village officials determined the best man for the job was right in their own backyard.
“I know it’s been the first internal chief we’ve had for probably about, over 20 years. So I think that’s significant,” said Palm.
Weiss will be formally sworn in at a June meeting of the village board, but the appointment is effective immediately. Weiss’ salary is set at $115,796.
Palm praised Weiss and the entire department for a high crime-solving rate, and said Weiss’ willingness to embrace advanced law enforcement technology has served the village well, and will continue to do so.
“The department is certainly moving in the right direction, and that’s a good thing. You can’t stop every bad guy, but when they are certainly catching a lot of those guys and serving justice, that’s good. That’s what we want to see,” Palm said.
Weiss said that he’ll continue to work hard to keep up that solid reputation, and won’t be taking the position as chief for granted. “Now that I’m appointed it doesn’t mean that I should sit back and think, forever. There are reappointments each year,” he said. “It’s just a continuing process where I have to prove myself.”