Yet another reason why to not trust cops.


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* BREAKING NEWS: FBI Raids Harvey Police Dept. Play Video Video: BREAKING NEWS: FBI Raids Harvey Police Dept. CBS 2 Chicago

CHICAGO – Duffel bags stuffed with cocaine were delivered by plane to an out-of-the-way suburban airport while two sheriff's officers provided security. A police officer stood by to guard the cash and keep out the riffraff at a poker game where $100,000 changed hands. And a drug dealer was told squad cars marked "sheriff" and "sheriff's police" might be available on a "freelance" basis to provide protection for his deliveries.

Such tales of law enforcement gone awry emerged in court papers Tuesday as federal prosecutors unveiled a series of elaborate sting operations aimed at officers who hired out to ride shotgun for drug deals and other criminal activities.

Fifteen officers and two other men who had pretended to be law enforcement officers were charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine or heroin or both.

But the most spectacular pretending was done by the federal agents themselves.

The pilots of the airplane were not drug runners but undercover agents. So were the gamblers who busily played hand after hand of high-stakes poker — all for show.

The drug broker who squired the officers to the airport to pick up the duffel bags was an agent. So was the drug dealer who stuffed the bags into his Mercedes-Benz.

U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said he was dismayed to find that so many law enforcement officers had "sold out their badge."

"When drug dealers deal drugs, they ought to be afraid of the police — not turn to them for help," Fitzgerald said at a news conference.

Officials paid homage to an unnamed FBI agent who moved into a business in Harvey more than a year ago and set up shop as a drug broker. He soon attracted the attention of police and the corruption grew, authorities said.

They said the agent was sent in undercover because there had been reports of police corruption over the last several years in southern Cook County, including the Harvey police department. An investigation into allegations of robbery, extortion, narcotics offenses and weapons distribution is ongoing, officials said.

Those charged include 10 Cook County sheriff's correctional officers, four Harvey police officers and one Chicago police officer.

Of the 17 defendants, 14 were arrested or surrendered Tuesday and were being immediately brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Mason. Two sheriff's officers are on active duty with Army National Guard units in Afghanistan, and warrants were issued for their arrest.

If convicted of conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine or one kilogram of heroin, the defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life. The maximum fine would be $4 million.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart called the alleged behavior "absolutely reprehensible."

"The responsibility of watching over jail inmates is an important one and it's a shame these men didn't take that responsibility more seriously," he said in a statement.

Each of those charged has been suspended with pay pending a hearing next week, Dart said. "That step will then lead to a request for termination," he said.
 

There are a very small percentage of LEO's that do this kind of thing. By far the majority are honest and actually want to do a good job. I, in no way, would lump all in the "do not trust" category.
 
Illinois

If you notice the location, the LEO there has always been suspect to corruption since the days of "Big Al" and probably won't be changing their stripes anytime soon until something is done about the acceptance of what goes on in Chicago....
 
I also think the majority of law enforcement are good and do a good job. There always has been and always will be some that will take advantage of their authority. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutly. That seems to be human nature. There are some places that are much worse than others. King Daily land is one of them. It is a breading ground for corruption.
 
There are a very small percentage of LEO's that do this kind of thing. By far the majority are honest and actually want to do a good job. I, in no way, would lump all in the "do not trust" category.

Me neither. Nevertheless, a very insightful article. It's really unfortunate that there are LEOs out there who who do this sort of thing, compromising the trust people are supposed to have in them.
 
Well, what do you expect out of the land of Chicago? Corruption central. Start with the mayor and work your way down. And I don't even want to hear about low pay - these guys make more than the average worker...they're just greedy. The only thing you can be sure of - in prison, most of these guys won't last more than a few months.
 
It's unfortunate that a few bad LEOs make everyone else look rotten.

However, it's good that we live in a country where the Feds are willing to bust these guys and put them away, rather than just asking for a huge bribe and looking the other way.
 
If you notice the location, the LEO there has always been suspect to corruption since the days of "Big Al" and probably won't be changing their stripes anytime soon until something is done about the acceptance of what goes on in Chicago....

pretty much what I was thinking.. cops in chicago do not represent cops in other areas.. they are among the most corrupt I would say.
 

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