Mar 16, 2005 9:45 am US/Central
Police Officer, Wife Deny Wrongdoing In Melrose Park Scandals
MELROSE PARK (CBS 2) ―
A Melrose Park Police lieutenant's wife has been questioned by the Cook County State's Attorney's financial crimes unit.
An investigation was launched after allegations that as much as $80,000 belonging to the Melrose Park Little League went missing. That scandal has led to the grand jury subpoenas for records.
"We've already said everything," Lisa Zito told a CBS 2 reporter.
The CBS 2 Investigative Team asked Lisa and her husband, Lt. George Zito, about the money allegedly missing from two bank accounts that Lisa Zito had access to as treasurer for the little league's non-profit organization
She wouldn't talk on camera about the probe, but off-camera, she confirmed money is missing.
She said she didn't take it, and that she has been cleared.
"I hope it's all over and done with," she said. "That's all."
But there's another investigation CBS 2 wanted to ask Lt. George Zito about – his role in a private security business connected to Police Chief Vito Scavo that is also the target of grand jury subpoenas.
"Our issue is not at all with the security," George Zito said. "This is strictly about her involvement with the little league."
Zito said he no longer works for the private detail.
CBS 2 has learned records from Scavo's private security consulting business have been subpoenaed by a grand jury.
We've learned Chief Scavo's private business is a paid a consultation fee to help another company get business in Melrose Park.
Chicago private security company IFPC Worldwide, Inc. paid Chief Scavo's company through contracts to guard the construction sites of a $40 million municipal water project.
Scavo also allegedly was paid to help IFPC get contracts from private businesses located in town.
One of those businesses was a movie theater, Lincoln Tech Center, a retirement home and Navistar International, where a gunman's 2001 rampage left five dead.
In several cases, even village squad cars with off-duty officers are used to guard businesses.
A Melrose Park spokesman said the mayor and city council approved renting out what they call older "retired police squads" for private security jobs.
After CBS 2's findings, they've ordered police logos to be removed from those squads.
The spokesman adds they see nothing wrong with Scavo's outside consulting contracts.
Scavo was unavailable for an on-camera interview.
As far as the missing little league money, CBS 2 was unable to reach a spokesman for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
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