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Siwek v. Retirement Board of the Policemen's Annuity & Benefit Fund8/29/2001
UNPUBLISHED
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County. Honorable Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird, Judge Presiding
The question in this case is whether a retired Chicago police officer is entitled to receive his annuity and pension benefits despite being convicted of two felony drug offenses. The answer requires us to explore the relation or connection, if any, between the felonies and his service as a policeman. We conclude this former police officer is not entitled to benefits.
FACTS
Neither party disputes the underlying facts of this case.
In 1992, Chicago police officer Raymond Siwek was convicted of two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. At trial, the State's evidence showed Siwek met with a friend, Brian Marchese, on May 6, 1992. Siwek gave Marchese $12,500 in order to purchase narcotics. Marchese later met with Weiss, an undercover detective, and paid Weiss for cocaine. Marchese was arrested.
Marchese then became an informant for the police. He agreed to participate in a trap to expose Siwek as the source of his funds. Marchese contacted Siwek and organized another drug purchase. Siwek was arrested when he came to Marchese's house and bought cocaine from Weiss.
During his criminal trial, Siwek testified he became a Chicago police officer in 1968. In 1971, Siwek was assigned to the "special operations group," a tactical unit assigned to high crime areas in Chicago. After spending several years in this unit, Siwek was transferred to the gang crimes unit. Siwek testified his work in the gang crimes unit included narcotics work and "undercover buys." In 1980 or 1981, Siwek was transferred to the organized crime division within the police department. His work in that unit included arresting large-scale drug dealers. Siwek testified he also made "undercover buys" as part of his duties in this unit.
In early 1983, Siwek was promoted to the rank of detective and transferred to the violent crimes unit. Siwek's "specialty" within that division was in narcotic-related homicides. In 1987, Siwek was assigned to the narcotics section for the deputy director of the U.S. Attorney's office.
In 1989, Siwek was transferred to the property crimes unit of the Chicago Police Department. Siwek testified he continued to be involved in narcotic investigations. He said that over the course of his career, he was involved in at least 500 narcotic arrests, had made 50 to 75 "buys," and had made half a dozen arrests when he was not on-duty.
Siwek said he met Brian Marchese while they were in the Illinois Army National Guard. At some point, Siwek became aware that Marchese had a drug and alcohol problem.
Siwek testified Marchese contacted him in early 1992 about a DUI charge that was pending against him. Marchese asked Siwek if someone from the Chicago police department could write him a "letter of consideration" to give to the judge who was handling the DUI charge. Marchese told Siwek he would give the department information on narcotic activity in exchange for the letter. Siwek introduced Marchese to a detective in the organized crime division of the Chicago police department and Marchese became an informant for the department.
Siwek said Marchese contacted him several times after he became an informant. Marchese passed information to Siwek, who in turn passed it on to another detective in the police department. Siwek didn't know if anyone followed up on the information. Siwek eventually told Marchese to give the information to the detective who helped Marchese become an informant.
Siwek's primary defense at trial was based on his claim that
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