William Hanhardt

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William Hanhardt is a disgraced former police officer who served in the Chicago Police Department from July 13, 1953, until March 26, 1986.

Hanhardt was the highest ranking associate of the Chicago Outfit inside the Chicago Police Department. Hanhardt was appointed Chief of Detectives with behind the scenes help from three "Made Members" of the Chicago Outfit: Alderman Fred Roti, Democratic Committeman John D'Arco Sr., and 1st Ward Secretary Pat Marcy. Hanhardt was the highest-ranking Chicago Police officer to ever be indicted. In May of 2002, a retired Hanhardt plead guilty to racketeering and was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said this about Hanhardt,

"It's remarkable that a person who was chief of detectives of the Chicago Police Department admits to being part of a racketeering conspiracy."

After retiring from the department he ran a highly successful jewerly theft ring for the Chicago Outfit. Former U.S. Attorney Scott Lassar stated "Hanhardt's organization surpasses, in duration and sophistication, just about any other jewelry theft ring we've seen."

Hanhardt is currently imprisoned in the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Waseca, a low security facility housing male inmates, with a projected release date of January 2012.[1]