Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said Thursday that the city’s police superintendent will stay on the job after his contract expires.

Superintendent Jody Weis’ contract is up in March. But Daley says he’ll keep Weis on until his mayoral term is up in mid-May.

The mayor defended Weis’ time on the job, which has ruffled feathers with some rank-and-file cops.

“The superintendent’s been very good,” Daley said.  “We had headlines - remember when you used to write about the headlines? Brutality, and what’s taken place, they’re loose! And he brought that all back.  We have a good police department. [The] murder rate is lowest since 1965.  He’s been a good, honest public official.”

Daley said it doesn’t make any sense to appoint an interim police superintendent who may only serve for a few weeks until a new mayor takes office.

Members of the Chicago police union say they want to see someone from their own ranks become the city’s top cop. Several prominent mayoral candidates have indicated they’d replace Weis if they win next month’s election.