Chicago police scandal: 4 cops in special unit sentenced after pleading guilty in long-running probe

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Chicago police officers assigned to the elite Special Operations Section stole nearly half a million dollars after targeting a Hispanic man driving an expensive car and withheld insulin from another man until he told them where he hid cash and cocaine, prosecutors alleged Friday.

The new details came as four former officers became the first to plead guilty in the long-running state and federal investigation that contributed to the early retirement of Police Supt. Phil Cline.

The four former officers -- Bart Maka, Brian Pratscher, Donovan Markiewicz and Guadalupe Salinas -- were promptly sentenced to 6 months each in jail and several years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of theft or official misconduct. They have been cooperating for some time and agreed to testify against other officers in the scandal-plagued SOS unit in return for the lenient sentences.

These sure police officers really liked gun control!