Pubdate: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Copyright: 2006 The Sun-Times Co. Contact: http://www.suntimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81 Author: Frank Main, Eric Herman CORRUPTION PROBE NETS 3 MORE COPS Join 4 Others Charged From Elite Unit A Chicago Police sergeant and two officers were arrested Monday in a widening corruption investigation of the elite Special Operations Section -- bringing the total number of officers charged in the case to seven. Sgt. James McGovern, 40, was charged with official misconduct, and his bond was set at $50,000. He's been on the force for 13 years. Officers Margaret Hopkins, 32, and Frank Villareal, 38, were charged with home invasion and official misconduct, and Villareal was charged with armed violence. They will appear in bond court today. Hopkins joined the department seven years ago and Villareal, 12 years ago. Officers Jerome Finnigan, Carl Suchocki, Keith Herrera and Thomas Sherry were charged in September with a list of felonies in 11 separate incidents dating to 2003. On Monday, Finnigan, Suchocki and Herrera were charged in three additional incidents, authorities said. They also will appear in bond court today. They have been free on bail since September. Attorney Robert Kuzas downplayed the new charges against his client, Herrera. "These are nothing more than mirror allegations," Kuzas said. "We are looking forward to the opportunity to address these issues in court." The investigation by the police Internal Affairs Division and Cook County state's attorney's office -- called Operation Broken Oath -- ranks as one of the most significant of its kind. The last time seven Chicago Police officers were charged with corruption was during a federal investigation of the Austin District in 1996. Additional officers have been stripped of their police powers, but they have not been criminally charged. More charges possible "This may reach the double digits" in the number of arrested officers, one law enforcement source said. The Special Operations Section is a citywide unit that makes gun and drug arrests. Finnigan allegedly was the ringleader of a robbery ring that operated out of the unit, preying on drug dealers and ordinary citizens alike. Hopkins and Villareal -- like their co-defendants -- also face lawsuits in federal court alleging police misconduct. This year, Hopkins and other officers were sued by Seneca Adams, who alleged brutality, and by Noel Padilla, who claimed he was framed on drug charges that were later dropped. Villareal was among officers sued last year by Laneer Winder, who won a $20,000 settlement from the city after claiming he was framed. The city has paid out $178,500 in legal settlements involving Finnigan for eight incidents dating to 1995. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine