Peterson Under Investigation for Police Misconduct
Police department alleges Peterson ran background checks on his wife's friends.
Dec. 3, 2007 — -- Drew Peterson is not only a suspect in his fourth wife's disappearance and his third wife's death, the former police officer is now under investigation for police misconduct, ABC News has learned.
The Bolingbrook Police Department, where the 53-year-old was a sergeant, has turned over evidence to prosecutors that alleges Peterson used department computers to track private citizens not under active police investigation.
The evidence alleges that Peterson ran ID and background information on friends and associates of his wife, Stacy Peterson, before she disappeared, as well as other people. It's an allegation that may have nothing to do with the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, but if proved could cost Drew his $6,000-a-month police pension.
Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky, says the allegations are untrue.
"Drew denies that he has used the computers or the databases in any unauthorized manner," Brodsky said, "and that every usage of the computers by him was authorized or allowed under their rules and regulations."
Sources said Peterson can be tied to the allegedly improper computer searches at the police department through his personal login. But Peterson's attorney says this is just retribution by the Bolingbrook police chief, who has called his former employee an embarrassment to the department.
Brodsky said he has written the Illinois attorney general to complain of vindictive, selective prosecution.
"It was common practice for members of the Bolingbrook Police Department and employees to run warrant checks and name checks for friends, for family members, and even to run prank names, rather risque prank names, when they would get bored in the evening," Brodsky said. "And so if they were to prosecute Drew for doing anything like that, they would have to prosecute probably most of the employees and officers of the Bolingbrook Police Department for the same thing."
ABC News contacted the Bolingbrook Police Department for comment, but received no response.
Illinois State Police released a statement Saturday saying a man who resembled Peterson was seen with another man at a truck stop on the day Stacy Peterson went missing, asking truckers to transport a package.
"What you're asking us to believe is that somebody who had just committed a serious offense is now running around and involving ah, strangers, family members, all involving them in the cover-up of this crime. Which just runs counter to common sense," Brodsky said.
