Another high-ranking officer caught up in the botched investigation of David Koschman’s death has left the Chicago Police Department.
Commander Joseph Salemme, 55, retired Wednesday.
His departure came three days after the retirement of Chief of Detectives Constantine “Dean” Andrews, who supervised the re-investigation of Koschman’s death and closed the case on March 1, 2011, without seeking charges against a nephew of Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Andrews and Salemme are among six officers at the center of an investigation by City Hall Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who has been examining the police department’s failure to bring charges against Daley nephew Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko for throwing the punch that caused Koschman’s death in 2004.
Ferguson’s yet-to-be-released report is believed to recommend punishments for several officers involved in the investigation four years ago, and his report is believed to have led to the retirements of Andrews and Salemme.
Vanecko ended up pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and serving 60 days in jail after a Chicago Sun-Times investigation led to the appointment of a special prosecutor who reopened the case.
