COP ARRESTED IN PLAN TO SELL MARIJUANA

CHICAGO -- A Chicago police officer was arrested Friday on charges
that he conspired to sell about 50 pounds of marijuana.

Joseph Pecora, 27, of Chicago obtained the marijuana--worth an
estimated $150,000--in April from a supplier in Bolingbrook,
prosecutors said in a criminal complaint filed Friday.

Unknown to Pecora, the Bolingbrook man obtained the marijuana from a
higher-level supplier who later cooperated with law enforcement
authorities, the complaint said.

The informant, who is not named in the complaint, later wore a wire
and taped a series of meetings with Pecora, the complaint said.

Pecora, a Chicago police officer for 5 years, appeared Friday in court
before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Larry Beaumont asked that Pecora be held in
custody pending a detention hearing, which Keys scheduled for Monday.

Pecora's attorney, Gerald Collins, declined to comment after the
hearing.

In a statement, police Supt. Philip Cline said: "We are disappointed
anytime any of our officers have participated in misconduct. We will
continue to cooperate with federal authorities until the investigation
is complete."

According to the complaint, Pecora fell behind in payments to his
direct supplier, George J. Zito, 29, of Bolingbrook.

Zito also was charged Friday with possession of marijuana with intent
to distribute. He could not be reached Friday for comment.

Pecora has been relieved of his police powers and is not being paid
pending the outcome of the case, police officials said.