The Dispatch from Moline, Illinois • 10

A10 THE DISPATCH AND THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS MONDAY, MAY 15, 199S ILLINOIS 'Dirty' cop keys big gang sting the end to a block that operated like a bank drive-through for illegal drugs. "It was drive-up service," said an ATF officer who worked on the investigation and asked to remain anonymous. "Sometimes it looked like Sox Park was letting 1 1 t. easy control for lookouts, who would shout "five-oh," then walk toward the approaching police car to alert their gang colleagues of the officers' direction. Crumbling brick two flats, an outdoor "antique" store overflowing with worthless junk and an outdoor auto parts store made ducking police an easy game.

It was an atmosphere that festered openly and profitably, capturing up to $30,000 a day in heroin and cocaine sales until Drozd (pronounced began the methodical work of shutting it down. In July 1991, a gang member offered Drozd, assigned to the city's gang investigations unit, a shotgun if he would steer his fellow officers away. In that simple move, the 20-year police veteran saw an opportunity. "They figured if they could buy me, I would take care of them," said Drozd, who took the gun directly to his superiors, along with a plan to infiltrate the gang's top echelon, a time-consuming and dangerous occupation. Chicago police asked federal ATF agents to join the investigation, since federal guidelines provided the possibility of much stricter sentencing.

For the next 40 months, Drozd to all appearances was a cop on the take. To better fit the role, the paunchy police officer went unshaven for days on end and rarely bathed. His wife, also a Chicago police officer, sometimes asked him to sleep on the couch. "There were times when he wasn't too pleasant to be around," the ATF officer acknowledged. Borrowing an idea from a television cop show, Drozd threw candy and food wrappers on the floor of his unmarked squad car to make it appear his dedication to his job had faltered.

"Bob gave the impression his life was falling apart," said Korzeniewski. "They figured he was a mess." So did some of his colleagues, who told their commander Drozd was corrupt. "I took the complaints and said I'd forward them to Internal Affairs, but IA already knew all about the investigation," said Cmdr. Donald Hilbring. Drozd wore a wire in his jacket to record his dealings, and once threw it to the ground in feigned disgust when a gang member asked to search him, to make certain he truly was a cop gone awry.

"Sometimes I could hear my heart beating boom, boom, boom," recalled Drozd. CHICAGO (AP) For three and a half years, Detective Bobby Drozd bumbled through wretched back alleys, accepting firearms, money and favors from the drug lords who laid claim to a forlorn pocket of urban America. Drozd was dirty; so dirty that cops he once considered friends reported him to Internal Affairs. But Internal Affairs knew all about Bobby Drozd, a burly, brave cop who was risking his life and reputation to bring a gang of thugs to its knees. "This guy is brave," said his partner, Ronald Korzeniewski.

"To me it was unreal that he would walk into the dark by himself, that he would have the courage to walk out and deal with these guys." On April 20, about 100 Chicago police officers and federal hoi, Tobacco and Firearms agents rose early to put the Traveling Vice Lords out of business. Twenty-one gang members were indicted on federal firearms and narcotics delivery charges and charges of conducting a criminal enterprise. If convicted, 14 face life in prison. Seven other gang members face state drug and gun charges. On the 2800 block of West Flournoy Street, April 20 meant 'This guy is brave.

To me it was unreal that he would walk into the dark by himself, that he would have the courage to walk out and deal with these Police partner Ronald Korzeniewski out. There were no race barriers, no sex barriers. They sold drugs to everybody." The locale was particularly well-suited for dealing drugs. Easy on-off access from Interstate 290 made the three-block trip into what is arguably the city's worst slum more palatable for city residents and suburbanites alike. The one-way street also meant VW Associated Press Taking bade neighborhood 4 Karrie and John Alms sit with their children, from left, Nathaniel, 1, Aaron, 4, and Andrew, 3 in front of their Peoria home.

The Alms purchased their home on Peoria's Near North Side, an area known for its drug and prostitution activity. The family has become involved with community groups interested in restoring and beautifying the neighborhood. Feds eye funding to Rep. Reynolds in the Quad Cities Top 10 reasons to join Mad Money Player's Club at Lady Lack Casino -it 2. A immrw, rariF how much it raised, as required by federal law, the newspaper found.

Reynolds denied setting up the two organizations and said he received no money from them. "These are not my groups," he told the Sun-Times in an interview published in Sunday editions. No one answered the phone Saturday or Sunday at Reynolds' Washington offices. The telephone also went unanswered at the number listed for the 9th Ward group, and there was no listing for the 17th Ward group. One of Reynolds' former campaign workers said it was Reynolds' idea to set up the 9th Ward organization.

Earl Worthington, who had a bitter falling out with Reynolds after serving as his campaign treasurer, said he opened up a bank account for the fund at Reynolds' direction in early 1990. Worthington's brother, James, said he opened another account for the fund in September 1992. CHICAGO (AP) Federal investigators have subpoenaed two little-known political groups in an investigation into whether they were funneling money to U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds from a hotel workers union, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The investigation of the 9th Ward Independent Democratic Organization and the 17th Ward Independent Democratic Organization both of which have no affiliation with local ward groups is part of an ongoing probe of the debt-laden Chicago Democrat's finances. Reynolds also faces trial in July on state charges that he had sex with an underage campaign worker and then tried to obstruct the investigation. The two political groups received up to $90,000 since 1990 from the Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees International Union, with more than half the money coming in the first six months of 1994, the Sun-Times reported. One, the 9th Ward, never reported how it spent the funds or Hun; wx 3 BB ma5r Bif--1J Christine Lage Hampton, IL $2,500.00 mm JoIeneMacDonald Jules S.Vidrine Moline, IL $5,000.00 Angelique D.Curtis Bettendorf.IA $2,800.62 kock Island, IL $10,000.00 a Seven Illinois counties declared disaster areas ir- ii -a 5. Pvy Tfe 7 WMyif' rfei lyl 1 KatherineBissonette Bettendorf.IA $2,500.00 Marian Lindley Milan, IL $5,000.00 Barry Sherriod Smith East Moline, IL $5,000.00 Evelyn Buchhaas New Lenox, IL $2,500.00 9.

Associated Press Seven central Illinois counties were declared disaster areas after weekend tornadoes and thunderstorms caused widespread damage and some injuries. Chris Tamminga, spokeswoman for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Springfield, said no serious injuries were reported from the 12 to 15 tornadoes that touched down Saturday. Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Macon, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell counties were given disaster status Sunday by Gov. Jim Edgar. "This declaration clears the way for the assistance residents and businesses need to begin recovery efforts from these devastating storms, Edgar said in a statement Last week, Sangamon and Logan were declared disaster counties after tornado damage there.

In the tiny Henderson County town of Raritan, a tornado Saturday was sucking 5-year-old John Livermore out of what was left of his home when his grandfather reached out and grabbed the boy's leg, the family said. The elder Livermore, also named John, pulled his grandson down into the rubble and lay on top of him until the twister was out of range, said the boy's aunt, Roxanne Corzett. "Dad said he just hung onto him until it was over," Corzett said. Deputy sheriff Dave Thompson said 55-year-old Wendel Shaner was found in a field near his demolished Raritan home. He was taken to McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, where he was in fair condition Sunday night.

A tornado also hit the Mississippi River town of Dallas City on the Henderson-Hancock county border, damaging 12 trailers, two homes, eight farms and the elementary school. Three minor injuries were reported, Mason County Sheriff Richard Walker said he has never seen such destruction, calling it nothing less than a miracle no one suffered serious injuries in the tornado damage around Manito. He estimated that about 20 homes and mobile homes were destroyed. The twister in Raritan crushed grain silos like pop cans and leveled houses. Raritan Fire Chief Earl Waller estimated as many as half of the town's 70 to 80 nouses were damaged.

Carl Huss, his family and neighbors were crouched beneath a table in their basement as the tornado hit Suddenly, there was a loud noise. "I turned around and saw daylight," Huss said. "I knew the house was gone." The Huss' two-story house was strewn across the back yard. The family bought the house in February. A storm also developed in Tazewell County and demolished 10 homes near South Pekin, sheriffs deputies said.

Four funnel clouds were reported between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. in the northern half of Champaign County, according to the Champaign County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency. Power was out for an hour or more in St. Joseph, Homer, Philo, Sadorus, Georgetown, Westville and part of Danville.

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