U.S. attorney looks at task force to curb 'systemic problem' of public corruption in Northwest Indiana
Chicago Tribune
January 27, 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-public-corruption-task-force-st-0128-20180126-story.html
If seeing public officials going to jail isn't enough to stop other officials from illegal conduct, the U.S. Attorney hopes a new task force will increase the deterrent effect.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch II has said he's renewing focus on a public corruption task force to continue the pursuit of officials who abuse their offices, a continuous trend that Judge James Moody pointed to during the sentencing earlier this month for convicted former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich.
"Public corruption is a systemic problem in Northwest Indiana," Kirsch said.
For several decades, public officials continue to go to trial for taking advantage of their positions, Kirsch said.
"It seems like a drumbeat of defendants," Kirsch said.
Kirsch said defendants have been sheriffs, county recorder, surveyor, city councilors, consultants and township trustees.
"It's so many different offices," Kirsch said.
During the sentencing for Buncich, Kirsch said Moody's comments on public corruption and betrayal of the public trust captured the need to continue pursuing those crimes. Kirsch said the judge noted that most public officials are upstanding but it's the bad few that drag down the rest.
Because of arrogance and greed Buncich eschewed the lofty values of clean politics he often preached, Moody said, during his comments at the former sheriff's sentencing hearing.
"Shame on you," Moody said.
Kirsch said he hopes that the efforts of the task force will serve as a deterrent and add to the effect successful prosecution already has.
"One of the goals of prosecution is deterrence," Kirsch said.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and public want people who might be going down the road of corrupt activities to stop, Kirsch said, and those who are possibly already engaged in that activity to change their ways.
Kirsch said elected officials need to do what's right and act in the public good.
"I am always hopeful that prosecution acts as general deterrence," Kirsch said.
The task force will combine resources from the U.S. Attorney's Office and other agencies with different areas of expertise, Kirsch said.
"It's a force multiplier," Kirsch said.
Kirsch said a variety of agencies working together can more effectively tackle an issue than a single office can.
The U.S. Attorney's Office has other coordinated efforts for particular crimes.
Kirsch announced Tuesday that one assistant U.S. attorney would coordinate cases related to opioid and opiate crime. The office will continue supporting Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Gang Response Investigation Team and a health care fraud coordinator.
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