Now-Retired Officer Put Police Evidence Back On Street For Profit, Prosecutors Allege A former Chicago police officer, retired to a life of luxury in Olympia Fields, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals Thursday after he was accused of stealing cocaine from an evidence room and selling it to drug dealers. John L. Smith, 54, is charged with drug conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. A Chicago police spokesman said Smith earned about $45,000 a year as a patrol officer when he retired from the department in 1999 and moved to the suburbs. [continues 481 words]
Whistleblower's Actions Have Sparked Controversy In Police Department Several Willow Springs police officers have broken ranks to alert officials and residents to a fellow cop's positive drug test, and in recent weeks the administration appears to be turning against the whistleblowers. Now, police officers are pitted against each other, dividing the small-town department against itself. About half of the full-time sworn police officers in the village signed a petition telling village officials they do not wish to work with a fellow officer accused of using cocaine. [continues 1002 words]
Officials Hope Summer Efforts Deter Others Despite having arrested only one person, Forest Preserve police officials said they hope publicizing this summer's seizures of marijuana plants will deter other drug traffickers from planting crops. Cook County Forest Preserve police said they teamed with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and state police investigators to find and destroy crops of marijuana, mostly in southern Cook County, using high-tech equipment. After cutting down 56,000 marijuana plants in forest preserves across the county and using night vision scopes and global positioning devices to aid their investigation, the combined forces arrested one person and charged the suspect with unlawful production of cannabis and manufacture of cannabis with intent to deliver. [continues 537 words]
