By Eric Stock

CHICAGO – Chicago has more than just a corruption problem, it has a bureaucracy problem according to someone who knows a thing or two about corruption.

Thomas Gradel co-wrote ‘Corrupt Illinois,’ a book published last year which included a chapter on police corruption in Chicago. He told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the city has tried to put in checks and balances within the police department, but all of the figureheads are appointed by the mayor.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen’s interview with Gradel on WJBC. 

“That is the way coverup happens in Chicago,” Gradel said . “You have this bureaucracy and you put layers and layers of bureaucracy on and then everybody points the finger at each other and nothing gets done.”

Gradel said mayor Rahm Emanuel is only going along with a federal investigation of the police department because he feels his power eroding and he says the public will have to keep the pressure on the city to make sure any findings and recommendations that could out of the investigation are followed.

“I think we need a watchful eye, we need to be skeptical,” Gradel said.

He said it will require the religious and business community to demand reforms.

“Not just the African-American community whose people are getting killed and abused by the police, but the white community really needs to scream about this and put the pressure on,” Gradel said.

Gradel noted Chicago P.D. has a long history of corruption, going back to 1960 when cops assisted a burglar so they could share in the stolen goods. The police chief was fired and eight officers were convicted.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].