THE 6 KOSCHMAN COPS WEBB CONSIDERED CHARGING
These are the six Chicago Police officers special prosecutor Dan K. Webb says he considered charging with crimes — but ultimately didn’t — as a result of the investigation that led to last month’s guilty plea by Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko, a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, in the death of David Koschman:
Deputy Chief Constantine G. “Dean” Andrews
The deputy chief of detectives spoke voluntarily with Webb’s investigators, unlike other cops who demanded immunity from prosecution. The son of Greek immigrants who ran the Lenox Restaurant on Rush Street, Andrews joined the police department in 1990. Within six years, he was a sergeant. At 37, he was promoted to commander of the Intelligence Division and later became commander of the Area 5 detective division. Andrews, 49, makes $162,012 a year.
Sgt. Samuel J. Cirone III
Cirone refused to talk to Webb’s investigators until he was given a limited form of immunity called a proffer to keep his statements from being used against him as long as he told the truth. Cirone joined the department in 1992 and became a detective in less than three years. He followed in the footsteps of his father, a 30-year Chicago cop who had a small role in “Thief,” a 1981 movie starring James Caan. That film also featured Cirone’s future brother-in-law, actor William Petersen of “CSI” fame, and used William Hanhardt — the former chief of detectives who years later went to prison for running a jewel-theft ring — as a consultant. Cirone, 45, is paid $105,864 a year. He made an additional $37,085 last year in overtime pay.
Cmdr. Joseph P. Salemme
Salemme, like Andrews, spoke with Webb’s investigators without any grant of immunity. He started with the department as a patrol officer 28 years ago, became a detective after five years and rose through the ranks, working in the Cold Case Squad and Gang Intelligence Division. Salemme, 54, a commander for nearly seven years, is paid $154,932 a year.
Det. James G. Gilger
Gilger, 56, refused to testify before the grand jury until he was granted immunity. He has been a detective for 17 of his 26 years as a police officer. His annual salary is $93,192. He made another $60,687 last year in overtime pay.
Det. Nicholas J. Spanos
Spanos — who also had immunity to testify before the grand jury — started working for the city in 1994 as an aviation security officer and became a cop the following year. Spanos, 43, has been a detective for seven years. He’s paid $87,832 a year and made an additional $44,597 last year in overtime.
Lt. Denis P. Walsh
Walsh, 50, spoke with investigators under a proffer agreement, like Cirone. Walsh, whose father was a deputy police chief, joined the department in 1986. A lieutenant since 2003, Walsh makes $115,644 a year. He got another $32,248 last year in overtime.