Tow probe didn't stop Chicago cop: FBI

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Even after he was taken off the streets during a corruption probe, Chicago Police Officer Jimmie L. Akins was still trying to figure out a way to extort bribes from tow truck companies, prosecutors say.

The probe involved secret FBI recordings of Akins, while still on duty, demanding bribes and taking payoffs to let tow truck operators remove vehicles from downtown accident scenes, according to charges unsealed Wednesday.

Akins, 41, is the fourth officer charged in a federal investigation that began in 2003. He allegedly charged tow truck operators $100 each time they hooked a vehicle in a wreck under his supervision.

One tow truck operator forged a crooked relationship with Akins after they met in a nightclub in 2004, according to the FBI affidavit supporting the charges against him. In 2006, Akins was secretly recorded shaking down $2,300 from the tow operator, who was cooperating with the FBI.

"We did one hundred a car -- I got you 38 cars," Akins allegedly said. "So from the 38 cars, out of those you gave me $1,500. So the change is $2,300."

No word yet from former Chief of Detectives William Hanhardt on this one.