
Meet Robert "Wes" Wheeler Jr., Chicago's New FBI Chief
Clip: 4/10/2023 | 5m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
It has been 100 days on the job for Chicago's new FBI Chief Robert "Wes" Wheeler Jr.
A look at the first 100 days in officer for Chicago's FBI Chief Robert "Wes" Wheeler Jr., a period marked by cases involving bribery, kidnapping and carjacking, and of course the ongoing corruption cases.
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Meet Robert "Wes" Wheeler Jr., Chicago's New FBI Chief
Clip: 4/10/2023 | 5m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
A look at the first 100 days in officer for Chicago's FBI Chief Robert "Wes" Wheeler Jr., a period marked by cases involving bribery, kidnapping and carjacking, and of course the ongoing corruption cases.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> TODAY MARKS 100 DAYS ON THE JOB FOR CHICAGO'S NEW FBI CHIEF.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN AN EVENTFUL FEW MONTHS.
HERE TO DISCUSS HIS TIME IN CHICAGO SO FAR IS FBI SPECIAL AGENT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
SO WHY COME TO CHICAGO?
>> IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.
SOME OF THE BEST WORK IN THE BUREAU HAPPENS HERE.
THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BE IMPACTFUL IN MY MISSION.
>> SO SPEAKING TO SOME OF THAT, I KNOW THAT CRIME IS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY RESIDENTS.
HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING VIOLENT CRIME?
>> WE HAVE BEEN IN THE VIOLENT CRIME BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME.
WE TRIED TO THINK OF HOW WE COULD DO IT BETTER AND HOW WE COULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL.
IT IS A PROBLEM WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE ALL BY HERSELF.
THIS IS A VERY COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH CHICAGO PD .
WE WANT TO BE VERY CONSIDERATE ON HOW WE ADDRESS VIOLENT CRIME AND WHAT OUR RESOURCES LOOK LIKE IN ORDER TO BE AS IMPACTFUL AS POSSIBLE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR TASK FORCES AND WE ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY DOING BUSINESS AND TRYING TO BE AS IMPACTFUL AS POSSIBLE.
>> ANY FURTHER COLLABORATIONS WITH THE CITY?
FUNDING?
TECHNOLOGY?
>> WE ARE NOT LACKING IN RESOURCES TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM.
THE PERSONNEL, THE AGENTS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THIS, WE HAVE RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
>> GOING AFTER THE WORST OF THE WORST, IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> TO ATTACK A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, THE ARCHITECTURE OF THEIR ORGANIZATION, IT IS NOT ALWAYS ONE ARREST AT A TIME.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES AND RIGOR TO DO THAT CORRECTLY.
>> IN CHICAGO, GETTING A NEW MAYOR WHO HAS A LOT OF OPINIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF CRIME, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DOES HE NEED TO KNOW?
>> SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY IN CHICAGO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE SPECIFICALLY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT.
>> AS FOR CORRUPTION, I WATCHED AN INTERVIEW JUST AFTER YOU HAD COME TO CHICAGO.
THINGS WERE WORSE IN THIS CITY THAN THEY WERE ELSEWHERE.
YOU STAND BY THAT?
>> IT IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM.
IT IS A PRIORITY FOR US.
I THINK WE HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD, HISTORICALLY, LEADING THESE CASES.
FOR ANYBODY WHO GREW UP IN CHICAGO, IT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN, AND I THINK IT IS IN OTHER CITIES, TOO.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE?
>> I AM PROUD OF OUR AGENTS AND OUR STAFF.
>> YOUR BACKGROUND IS IN COUNTERTERRORISM.
IS THAT A PARTICULAR CONCERN IN CHICAGO?
>> IT IS A CONCERN TO ALL OF US.
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM A COUNTERTERRORIST ATTACK.
WE DO IT EVERY DAY.
IT IS THE MIND-SET OF PROTECTING
How Chicago's New Police Superintendent Will Be Chosen
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 4/10/2023 | 5m 25s | The process has begun to find Chicago’s next police superintendent. (5m 25s)
How the NASCAR Street Race Will Affect Chicago Traffic
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 4/10/2023 | 2m 58s | A look at developing plans around NASCAR's planned Chicago street race this summer. (2m 58s)
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