Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 1999
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 1999 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4066
Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/
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Author: Todd Lighty
Bookmark: MAP's link to Illinois articles is: http://www.mapinc.org/states/il

DETAILS MULTIPLY IN COP'S DRUG CASE

Court Papers Have More Allegations

In a series of court filings, federal authorities have provided a broad
outline of corruption in the Chicago Police Department involving
allegations that a crew of veteran officers allegedly assisted ex-cop
Joseph Miedzianowski in shaking down drug dealers.

The filings in U.S. District Court reveal for the first time that
Miedzianowski and his former partner allegedly carried in their police car
a duffel bag of drugs to plant on suspects.

In addition, the filings disclose that Miedzianowski and other officers
allegedly stole $250,000 from a drug dealer and that a 1994 internal
investigation into allegations that Miedzianowski stole money during a drug
raid was compromised.

The documents also for the first time publicly name Miedzianowski's
longtime partner, John Galligan, as allegedly being involved in the scheme
and mentions another officer suspected of wrongdoing, though the officer is
identified only by a first name.

Miedzianowski, 46, who says he is innocent, has remained in federal custody
since his arrest nearly a year ago. He quit the department in June to tap
into his police pension fund to pay mounting bills.

Galligan, 49, and three other officers have been stripped of their police
powers and have been transferred to administrative jobs.

"All four of those officers have been assigned to inside duties where they
don't have to deal with the public," said Pat Camden, a spokesman for the
Chicago Police Department. "They are under investigation."

Lawyers for Miedzianowski and Galligan refused to comment. The lead
prosecutor on the case, Brian Netols, also declined to comment.

Federal authorities allege that Miedzianowski led a double life as a cop
and drug kingpin, running a Miami-to-Chicago cocaine and heroin ring.

The former gang crimes officer has been accused of fixing criminal cases
for drug traffickers, protecting drug operations by tipping off dealers to
investigations, shaking down rival dealers and supplying gangs with illegal
firearms, according to co-defendants now cooperating with authorities.

To date, 10 of Miedzianowski's co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are
assisting the government.

The latest round of documents were attached to court papers filed by
defense lawyers seeking to block federal authorities from using evidence
gathered from wiretaps of the home telephones of Miedzianowski and his
co-defendants.

The court documents provide fresh information about the allegations against
Miedzianowski and other Chicago police officers.

Long before Miedzianowski was arrested in December 1998, federal agents had
informed the Chicago Police Department that they did not want to work with
him on drug investigations.

"Miedzianowski was excluded from these assignments but not told why so he
would not become suspicious," according to court documents.

The federal agents were aware of some allegations against Miedzianowski
including those made by former U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
agent, Diane Klipfel, that Miedzianowski and other police officers
allegedly stole money during a 1992 drug bust.

Klipfel's allegations were subsequently investigated by the police internal
affairs unit. The officers were exonerated in 1994 of wrongdoing.

But, according to documents recently filed by prosecutors, the internal
police investigation was compromised because "Miedzianowski was kept
informed of the progress" of the investigation as it occurred.

Prosecutors revealed that the Police Department has reopened that old
investigation.
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