Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today the arrest of an Elmwood Park Police officer on charges of senior financial exploitation and official misconduct.
John A. Wasilenko, 39, of Norridge, was taken into custody this morning at the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Headquarters in Maywood. He is scheduled to appear in bond court today at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Police photo: John A. Wasilenko.
The investigation began in December 2012 when employees at a Brookfield bank contacted Brookfield Police after a customer, an 84-year-old man, told them he did not write a $20,000 check that was made out to Wasilenko. The customer’s account was being monitored for unusual activity because he had reported thefts earlier in 2012 at his Elmwood Park home.
Brookfield Police contacted the Sheriff’s Financial Crimes Unit to assist with this investigation. During the investigation, the agencies learned that Wasilenko was one of the police officers the victim had spoken to about the thefts at his home.
Later, investigators learned, Wasilenko befriended the victim, who has advanced dementia.
The investigation also showed that in December 2012 Wasilenko deposited a $20,000 check issued to him from the victim’s account.
Sheriff Dart and the Brookfield Police Department would like to thank the Elmwood Park Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.
Sheriff Dart also reminds the public that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.
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