THE CHIEF SAYS.....
by Chief
Investigator, Wayne A. Johnson
ORGANIZED CRIME IN
CHICAGO
CICERO
Chicago
Newspapers have exhaustively reported on the scandalous events surrounding the
Village Administration and it’s Police Department. Over recent months a newly
hired Police Chief and Deputy Chief were suspended pending separation, for
handing documents over to Federal Investigators that paint a picture of
widespread corruption within the Village Administration. Since that revelation
these highly regarded police professionals have been hit with a barrage of
allegations aimed at their credibility and honesty. It seems like fifty plus
years of exemplary police service means nothing when the venom of Cicero is
injected into one’s career. Meanwhile the response to these vacancies was to
place an officer at the helm, that while light on experience, was heavy with
clout. It was no surprise when he stepped down in less than one week for his
associations to an Organized Crime figure. The next move I find puzzling, as
the Illinois State Police took over the duties of managing the beleaguered
Police Department. It seemed like the only quick solution to such a problem
but, I wonder: Is the Illinois State Police staffed to handle such bailouts? I
guess we will find out soon.
Meanwhile,
the first of what sources close to the investigation claim, may be dozens of
indictments was filed in federal court. This, as much of the malfeasance in
Cicero leads to the same place, the top. Since this case emerged others have
blossomed in the landscape of the Federal Plaza in Downtown Chicago. The latest
a Billing controversy has lead investigators to the pristine countryside of
Wisconsin. Who knows where it may go next!
THE “BEAK” SPEAKS
In an attempt to save his own hide Organized
Crime scoundrel Bobby “The Beak” Siegel, spilled his guts over the last couple
of years after his arrest in Tampa Florida. This led to a year long wire tap of
a former Chicago Police Deputy Superintendent, that for years held a national
reputation as a crime fighter of the highest level. This also produced notices
for a couple hundred individuals regarding their conversations with the
retiree. Troubling news for any police officer! Once this information was first
released, it was followed by other interesting events to include: the
retirement of a high ranking police official suspected of being involved in
what was characterized as a nationwide federal investigation of alleged jewelry
thefts, involvement of other active Chicago Police Officers, and the
re-emergence of often discussed but, never investigated affiliations between high ranking police
officials and Organized Crime figures.
It seems
that the bad guys and a very small number of police officers got a little too
cozy in their relationships and decided to work together, targeting jewelry
salesmen. It is alleged that the salesman would be spotted plying their trade
in the jewelry district of the Loop known as “Jeweler’s Row”. Their license
numbers would be recorded from their cars and given to on duty police officers
for registration information. After this information was passed on to the bad
guys the salesmen would be robbed at a later time near or at their homes. The
bad guys would then use their network of fencing operations to move the stolen
merchandise, often in different states, a clear federal violation.
Although
not Cicero, it seems that Chicago needs to re-evaluate their internal
investigation capabilities and enforcement of Rule 47, that led to a previous
Superintendent’s demise.
