COPS ARRESTED IN DRUG SCAM

Two Chicago police officers assigned to the public housing unit were snared
in a federal sting after allegedly stealing a cache of drugs, guns and cash.

Three other people, including a civilian police department employee and two
former officers, were also in federal custody Thursday night.

Sources said one of the former officers was dismissed several years ago.
The other former officer had retired.

The two current officers, a 27-year sergeant and an 11-year patrolman
assigned to the public housing unit, were expected to appear in federal
court today.

The investigation began months ago after officers made a drug arrest and a
suspect told them police were stealing drugs from gang members, a police
source said.

A multijurisdictional task force, including the FBI, the U.S. attorney's
office, the Illinois attorney general's office and Chicago police,
investigated the allegations.

The FBI and Chicago police set up a sting operation, telling the officers
under investigation the whereabouts of a stash of drugs, guns and cash. The
officers subsequently stole the stash, sources said.

Further details of the sting operation and the arrests were not available.

Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, declined to
comment on the matter other than to confirm that two Chicago officers were
arrested. He said more information might be available today.

The Chicago Police Internal Affairs Division was also investigating the
allegations.

"From the time this investigation began, the Chicago Police Department and
its internal affairs division cooperated fully with the FBI," said David
Bayless, a department spokesman. "We will move administratively to take
these guys off the street."

The arrests come at an awkward time for the Chicago Police Department. Jury
selection in the federal trial of former Chicago police officer Joseph
Miedzianowski is currently under way. Miedzianowski is accused, along with
his partner, officer John Galligan, of shaking down drug dealers and
running a Chicago-to-Miami drug ring.

Contributing: Annie Sweeney and Michael Sneed.