Koschman Special Prosecutor Turned Evidence Over To FBI

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 26, 2014 2:45PM

One of the more frustrating revelations about the David Koschman report was the realization that charges would not be filed against police officers handling the case because the statute of limitations had expired. That doesn’t mean special prosecutor Dan Webb couldn’t turn over the evidence he amassed during his 17 month investigation to other authorities and the Sun-Times reports that’s exactly what Webb did.

Webb received permission last June from Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Toomin to turn over evidence to four FBI agents with experience in police corruption investigations. Toomin wrote in the order granting Webb’s request:

“The interests of justice require that the special prosecutor disclose materials obtained through the special grand jury, including the identities of subpoenaed witnesses, witness testimony and the nature and content of documents and physical evidence obtained through the special grand jury investigation.”

Files from the original 2004 investigation into Koschman’s death and the 2011 re-investigation went missing, with one document being discovered in the Northwest Side bungalow of Police Lt. Dennis P. Walsh, who is linked in the Koschman report to four instances of missing files in the case. Some of the officers involved in the Koschman investigations may be under scrutiny from the FBI for similar behavior in other cases.

“One issue that has arisen during the OSP’s [Office of the Special Prosecutor’s] investigation into allegations of misconduct at the Chicago Police Department and Cook County state’s attorney’s office is the authenticity and origin of police reports related to the Koschman investigation, as well as official accounts of the location and discovery of those reports,” Webb wrote.

“Additionally, information developed during the course of the OSP’s investigation suggests individuals involved with the Koschman investigation may also be under investigation for conduct similar to that alleged in the petition to appoint a special prosecutor in this case.”

Webb’s report on Koschman’s death remained sealed under court order until Feb. 4, four days after Richard “R.J.” Vanecko pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the case. In addition to Dennis Walsh, Webb considered pursuing criminal charges against Deputy Chief of Detectives Constantine G. “Dean” Andrews, Sgt. Samuel J. Cirone III, Cmdr. Joseph P. Salemme, Det. James G. Gilger and Det. Nicholas J. Spanos, who were all involved in the 2011 reinvestigation of the case. Webb decided not to pursue charges because of a lack of evidence.