Michael J. Corbitt

Michael Jerome Corbitt (March 17, 1944 – July 27, 2004) was a police chief of Willow Springs, Illinois, and an associate of Chicago Outfit mobsters such as Sal Bastone, Sam "Momo" Giancana and Antonino "Tony," "Joe Batters" Accardo. He became a cooperating witness after being convicted of aiding in the murder of Chicagoan Diane Masters, by her husband, Alan. Corbitt authored a book about his experiences entitled, "Double Deal: The Cop Who Was a Mobster."

Life

Michael Corbitt was born to an Irish American family in Chicago, Illinois. After a several years in a Roman Catholic parochial school, he was transferred to public school at age 9. He would later recall that, without a Catholic school uniform to hide behind, it was obvious just how poor his family was. Humiliated by the poverty of his parents and tired of hand-me-down toys and clothing, he turned to shoplifting and later graduated to running with an Italian-American street gang.

In always hanging around where Corbitt could be seen by Mob members, he soon drew the attention of the Chicago Outfit, who recruited him into running errands around one of its social clubs. After several years of owning and running a Sunoco gas station set up by the Mob, which also doubled as a mobster hang out, Outfit boss Sam Giancana then offered Corbitt a position as a police officer in Willow Springs, Illinois. According to Corbitt's memoirs, Giancana told him after he accepted the position, "But just remember kid...don't forget who your friends are." Shortly thereafter, Corbitt was sworn into the Willow Springs police department by notorious political boss Doc Rust.

Michael J. Corbitt died from lung cancer, at age 60, in 2004.

Quotes

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Double Deal, page 289.
  2. ↑ Double Deal, page 304.
  3. ↑ Double Deal, page 239.

Sources

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