VETERAN COP ADMITS HIS ROLE IN DRUG RING

Chicago police officers are trained never to let their partner down.

But a 23-year veteran of the force paid the price Thursday for
helping his partner run an interstate drug ring.

John F. Galligan, 51, pleaded guilty to helping his partner run the
crack cocaine operation and then lying to cover it up.

Under a plea agreement, federal prosecutors recommended that Galligan
serve 57 months in prison.

Galligan's partner, Joseph Miedzianowski, was found guilty of
orchestrating the drug operation last April after a 12-week trial.

Galligan, a Vietnam veteran, stood with his hands clasped as U.S.
District Judge Blanche Manning read terms of the agreement. He will
be sentenced March 15.

''He is at this point relieved that the matter is resolved,'' said
Galligan's attorney, Michael Monico. ''His service as a police
officer is over and it's a very sad day.''

Police spokesman Pat Camden said the department started termination
proceedings against Galligan on Thursday.

The trial featured wire-tapped conversations of the two officers
bragging about how they had escaped corruption charges over the
years. Miedzianowski also is heard setting up drug deals, advising
gangbangers on how to beat drug charges and complaining about his
mistress.

Galligan admitted to giving a drug informant three grams of crack
cocaine in the parking lot at the Maxwell Street police station.

He also admitted covering for Miedzianowski after he took two
kilograms of cocaine from a drug suspect. Miedzianowski inventoried
one kilogram with the police department and kept the second one for
himself, according to the plea agreement.

Galligan helped protect Miedzianowski ''by means including, but not
limited to, falsifying official reports and documentation and
testifying falsely at court proceedings,'' the plea agreement said.