Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 6, 2007 14:21:27 GMT -5
CHICAGO - The man once dubbed one of Chicago's most corrupt police officers says a one-time government agent made false allegations against him to cover her own misconduct, according to a videotaped deposition.
In a tape played for jurors Monday, former officer Joseph Miedzianowski accuses Diane V. Klipfel of countless "disgraceful" acts of corruption.
"I don't keep a catalog or a Rolodex of everything," he said. "I wouldn't have one big enough."
Klipfel and husband Michael V. Casali were both agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms when Miedzianowski was a decorated narcotics investigator. In a civil suit against the city, the couple allege that officials retaliated against them after they leveled corruption charges at Miedzianowski, who is also a defendant in the suit.
In a deposition taken at a federal prison, Miedzianowski characterized Klipfel as out of control and a liar.
"Lunatic would've been one of the nicer words I would've used on her," Miedzianowski said.
His statements directly contradicted testimony given last week by Klipfel, who told jurors that she saw Miedzianowski take the key to a safe-deposit box from a drug dealer whose home was later found to be missing cash and jewelry.
In Miedzianowski's account, she was the one who found the key and later pocketed a piece of jewelry.
He said he only filed a misconduct complaint against her because he thought she had filed one against him. He also denied interfering in internal investigations of himself or Klipfel.
Klipfel and her husband are seeking almost $10 million apiece in damages from the city.
Miedzianowski was convicted in April 2001 of racketeering, narcotics conspiracy and firearms violations. He is serving a life sentence at a federal prison in California.
cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_037075552.html
In a tape played for jurors Monday, former officer Joseph Miedzianowski accuses Diane V. Klipfel of countless "disgraceful" acts of corruption.
"I don't keep a catalog or a Rolodex of everything," he said. "I wouldn't have one big enough."
Klipfel and husband Michael V. Casali were both agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms when Miedzianowski was a decorated narcotics investigator. In a civil suit against the city, the couple allege that officials retaliated against them after they leveled corruption charges at Miedzianowski, who is also a defendant in the suit.
In a deposition taken at a federal prison, Miedzianowski characterized Klipfel as out of control and a liar.
"Lunatic would've been one of the nicer words I would've used on her," Miedzianowski said.
His statements directly contradicted testimony given last week by Klipfel, who told jurors that she saw Miedzianowski take the key to a safe-deposit box from a drug dealer whose home was later found to be missing cash and jewelry.
In Miedzianowski's account, she was the one who found the key and later pocketed a piece of jewelry.
He said he only filed a misconduct complaint against her because he thought she had filed one against him. He also denied interfering in internal investigations of himself or Klipfel.
Klipfel and her husband are seeking almost $10 million apiece in damages from the city.
Miedzianowski was convicted in April 2001 of racketeering, narcotics conspiracy and firearms violations. He is serving a life sentence at a federal prison in California.
cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_037075552.html