FBI's second-in-command named Executive Director of Chicago Crime Commission

CHICAGO, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Chicago Crime Commission named Joseph C. Ways, Sr. as its new Executive Director.  Ways is a career crime fighter with an extensive FBI background.  He served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Administration, the number two person in the Chicago Field Office from 2005-2007, and as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of White Collar Crime from 2002-2005.   Ways, who began his career with the Philadelphia Police Department, also has extensive experience fighting organized crime in upstate New York, street gangs in Los Angeles, and healthcare fraud in Washington D.C.  Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of the Cook County Sheriff's Office of Professional Review.

"The Chicago Crime Commission is excited about the opportunity to have Joe Ways as its new Executive Director," according to J.R. Davis, President and Chairman of the Chicago Crime Commission.  "He will bring his enthusiasm and expertise to the table and will work to harness all available resources for our common goal of fighting crime in Chicago and ensuring the safest business climate possible," he added.

Ways will work closely with Chicago Crime Commission Executive Vice-President Art Bilek in their shared goal of collaborating with the business community to improve the quality of public safety in our city. "I am committed to forging stronger links among law enforcement, businesses and civic organizations in an all-out effort to make Chicago a safer place for our businesses and families to grow and prosper," Ways said.

"My goal is to uphold the Chicago Crime Commission's tradition of addressing organized crime in Chicago.   It is no secret that street gangs in Chicago continue to be a scourge on our neighborhoods and children," Ways continued.  "It is my belief that everyone, including the business community, must play a role in extricating street gangs from our neighborhoods," he added.  

Additionally, as Executive Director of the Chicago Crime Commission, Joe Ways will remain a vigilant watchdog in any efforts to expand gambling in Illinois.  "If new gambling legislation is passed without the appropriate safeguards, it will be only a matter of time before increased political corruption and Crime Syndicate involvement become a reality," said Ways.  "As Executive Director, I will do my best to prevent that from happening," he concluded.

For more information about the Chicago Crime Commission, visit www.chicagocrimecommission.org

For More Information Contact:

John J. Pastuovic
(312) 372-0105 voice
(312) 925-9092 cell

SOURCE Chicago Crime Commission