Brickbats

The Strong Arm of the Law

|

Federal prosecutors have charged former Melrose Park, Illinois, police chief Vito Scavo with extortion and racketeering. They say he used "extortion and strong arm tactics" to get local bars and restaurants, as well as a church and amusement park, to hire guards from a security firm he owned. Prosecutors also allege that many of the guards were actually on-duty policy officers.