BENSENVILLE VILLAGE BOARD SUMMARIZES POLICE PROBE

The following is an edited version of a letter recently sent to residents
by the Bensenville village board:

Dear Bensenville Residents:

Over the last several months, the village board has had the unpleasant task
of correcting several serious problems of illegal and improper conduct by a
number of Bensenville police officers.

This letter gives you a summary of the background and findings of the
investigation by the village's special outside counsel.

In early 1998, the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a raid on a
Bensenville tavern called Club Latino, seeking evidence relating to
narcotics trafficking and official police misconduct. The news media raised
questions as to whether there was any conflict of interest by a senior
Bensenville police officer whose parents owned the tavern.

At the same time, other charges concerning alleged wrongdoing by
Bensenville police officers were brought to the village board.

The board retained a prominent former federal prosecutor, Theodore Poulos,
and his law firm to conduct a thorough investigation of these problems.
Poulos and his investigative team have uncovered evidence of a number of
serious violations of law.

Evidence that a senior Bensenville police officer illegally substituted
cocaine in an evidence envelope and falsely (represented) that the cocaine
was actually seized from the criminal defendant.

This same officer repeatedly falsely certified he had destroyed cocaine in
at least 20 separate cases. This officer has been indicted on felony
charges and resigned from the department.

Evidence that a second officer engaged in the theft of $6,000 in cash
seized in drug cases. There is also evidence this same officer - whose
family owned a local tavern - improperly conducted the police department's
investigation of the tavern for liquor license renewal. The village has
taken action to seek this officer's dismissal and has referred the evidence
to the state's attorney.

Evidence that a third officer operated an unauthorized and unlicensed
private security service called Bensenville Security Services out of the
Bensenville Police Department.

The evidence shows this unlicensed security service (using Bensenville
Police Department equipment) earned gross income of many hundreds of
thousands of dollars, much of which was not reported to the federal or
state government on any tax returns.

The investigation also revealed at least 10 other officers had each failed
to declare and pay state or federal income tax on thousands of dollars of
income.

Based on the evidence, the village board has taken the following actions:

1. The village has forwarded evidence to relevant state and federal
prosecutors for possible criminal prosecution.

2. The village has accepted the resignations of several officers who have
voluntarily resigned.

3. Where the village has substantial credible evidence that an officer had
engaged in illegal or improper conduct, and that officer refuses to
voluntarily resign, the village has and will bring formal proceedings
seeking that officer's dismissal .

In the wake of the suspensions, Bensenville has enlisted standby assistance
of police from neighboring communities, including Elk Grove Village. The
police department has been handling all of its own calls and has staffing
arrangements in place with the use of current staff and trained, certified
part-time police officers.

Respectfully,

John C. Geils, Village President

Ray Basso, Trustee

Michael Kervin, Trustee

Robert Strandt, Trustee

Marianne Tralewski, Trustee

Peggy L. Walberg, Trustee

Barbara Wanzung, Trustee