Sheriff Richard B. Ogilvie

In 1962, former federal prosecutor Richard B. Ogilvie threw his hat in the ring for Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois. Ogilivie's primary claim to fame was an income tax evasion conviction against mob boss Anthony "Big Tuna" Accardo. His opponent was equally qualified with the added bonus of being a Democrat. The city of Chicago has a long and deep Democrat heritage, but suburban Cook County is historically Republican. Ogilvie had an uphill battle from the start. Dick Cain, who had been Ogilvie's investigator while building the Accardo case, approached Ogilvie with an incredible offer.

Cain told the candidate that he was mobbed up and because of that he was able to manipulate the vote in Chicago to ensure Ogilvie won the election. In return he wanted to be appointed chief of a new Special Investigations Unit. In this role, Cain would clean up vice in Cook County, not by closing it down, but by controlling it. In accepting the deal, Ogilvie and Cain redefined the concept of police corruption in a city where corruption was nothing new.

More later...