The Chicago Police Department was rocked by a fresh scandal today as it emerged disgraced former Special Operations Section officer Jerome Finnigan faces federal charges for allegedly ordering a hit on a former officer. 

Finnigan, 44 - one of seven officers accused of stealing from drug dealers, and who have been facing felony charges in state court since last summer - last week allegedly hired a street gang member to kill a former officer who was due to testify against him, according to the federal charges filed today.

According to the FBI, Finnigan first discussed commissioning the murder of a fellow officer in July, using the code word "paint job" to describe the killing and his plan to offer a gang member $5,000.

Finnigan — wearing a green sweat shirt turned inside out and shackled at the ankles — said he understood the charges against him during a brief hearing in federal court.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole ordered Finnigan held until a Monday detention hearing.

Finnigan declined to talk to reporters as marshals led him away, and defense attorney Michael Ficaro said he would have no comment until he learned more about the case against his client.

Finnigan, who previously was free on $4 million bond in the state cases, was arrested at his home in Chicago's Garfield Ridge community, this morning by FBI agents, authorities said.

Read the rest of the article at: Prison Planet

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