A $750,000 cash bond was ordered for three Schaumburg police detectives accused of stealing cash and illegal drugs from dealers.
Terrance O’Brien, 47; John Cichy, 30; and Matthew Hudak, 29 were arrested Wednesday in DuPage County, officials confirmed. The arrests followed a joint investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and DuPage County authorities.
"This is not a good day for the good guys. As a matter of fact, this is a sad day," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jack Riley.
O’Brien is a 20-year veteran who told police he did it for the thrill and had no money issues. Hudak is a 10-year veteran with a wife and two kids.
The judge ordered the full cash bond, saying the defendants have nothing left to lose and considered them a flight risk.
Prosecutors said the crimes started about six months ago when the officers approached an informant and asked him to sell drugs for them. Prosecutors said they supplied the informant with marijuana and cocaine prosecutors say was stolen from dealers or lifted from seizures and not submitted into evidence.
"They would rip drug dealers off and they would put only a small amount of the drugs into evidence and charge the drug dealers with actually less than they possessed, knowing full well that any drug dealer would never complain," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.
Audio and video recordings were played in court of the officers discussing plans to steal drugs from a dealer and delivering money to the informant. Prosecutors said the incidents occurred while the officers were in tactical clothing and police department vehicles.
Schaumburg police said in a statement Wednesday the officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the state’s attorney’s office’s investigation. The village has also begun its own investigation.
Police said they are cooperating with the state’s attorney’s office.
