CHICAGO BEING SUED REMEMBER MIEDZIANOWSKI

How many of you out there remember these Narcotics/Gang days. Anyone think Cline might be thinking its time for retirement and the easy chair no were not talking electric either, clear those heads for a bit. The Miedzianowski case screwed up more than a few working officers. Allegations here are in reference to police retaliation against former ATF agents a married couple who said they blew the whistle on corrupt police and the eventual tumbling of Miedzianowski.

Saltzberg said that "Phil Cline knew Miedzianowski was a crook - it was hard to miss." She said that Cline filed several reports suggesting that Miedzianowski might have been involved in corruption.

But she said that he didn't follow up on them.

Saltzberg representing the former ATF agents promised to shine a light on corruption and indifference at the police department. Among planned witnesses for the couple is Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline, who once supervised Miedzianowski. Stephen Baker representing the city claims the city has no responsibilities for the problems that beset the former agents.

Miedzianowski, who is also a defendant in the suit, was convicted in April 2001 of racketeering, narcotics conspiracy and firearms violations. He is serving a life sentence at a federal prison in California.

Witnesses at his trial testified that Miedzianowski supplied street gang members with drugs, guns and ammunition when he was supposed to be investigating them.
Attorneys for Klipfel and Casali plan to show jurors a televised deposition given by the wayward former officer from his federal prison.

Diane V. Klipfel and Michael V. Casali, a married couple who were agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, found their lives in ruins after they leveled corruption charges in 1992 at decorated narcotics investigator Joseph Miedzianowski, attorney Sally H. Saltzberg said.

"They went to enormous lengths to retaliate against Diane and Mike for their allegations," Saltzberg said during opening statements in the couple's civil lawsuit against the city.
Klipfel and Casali are seeking almost $10 million apiece in damages from the city, saying they were not only the targets of retaliation but the victims of a "blue wall of silence" designed to cover up corruption.
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/politics/16529093.htm

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

December 1998 Chicago Police Officer Joseph Miedzianowski, along with 14 others, was charged with running a drug distribution ring based on Chicago's northwest side. Described as the most corrupt cop in Chicago's history, Miedzianowski was convicted in U.S. District court in April 2001.
http://www.crimelynx.com/gangboss.html
http://members.tripod.com/~MerlM/index-14.html
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n377/a01.html
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n2022/a02.html
Many names were involved in this heater case and they ran through various controversial accusations not favorable to Judge Manning which also included Sensenbrenner.