As a Chicago Police envoy superint...

As a Chicago Police envoy superintendent, James Whigham battled the riddle of people misusing police identification.

Later, he came subject to investigation for contributing to the question as U.S. marshal in Chicago, the Sun-Times has learned.

In 2001 when he was the marshal, Whigham passed disclosed a special deputy marshal badge and a U Marshals Service raid jacket to a bar buddy who wore the jacket while bouncing a check at a florist. Whigham's gifts deposit him under federal scrutiny for violating U Marshals Service methods He was not charged.

Today, Whigham helps hasten Cook County government as chief of staff to Board President John Stroger

Whigham downplays the badge he gave Melvin Burnside, whom Whigham now calls his "check-bouncing former friend."

Whigham also bestowed special proxy marshal badges on a political patron, Ald. William Beavers (7th) and a confidant, the late John "Jack" Townsend, one time the No. 2 police official in Chicago.

Whigham described the badges as toylike and plastic. He said no single could ever confuse the badges as real. on the other hand the special deputy badges were actually made of metal, said Kim Widup, the rife U.S. marshal in Chicago. They are similar to the badges issued to real delegate marshals. And they were attached to plastic pouch holders similar to those worn by the agency of security officers in the federal courthouse in Chicago, Widup said.

Widup said he would at no time give a special deputy marshal badge to anyone who is not a sworn law enforcement officer. Although there is no regulation prohibiting a U marshal from giving away a raid jacket, he said he would not do that, either. "I cannot imagine any use of a raid jacket other than to demonstrate to the public that you are the police," he said.

Federal investigators confiscated the three badges, and sum of two units of them are on display in the Marshals Service's office in Chicago -- nearest to badges seized from police impersonators. The Marshals Service has aggressively investigated impersonation, a growing Chicago-area point to be solved [i]or[/i] settled

The Sun-Times learned of the investigation into Whigham's gifts while researching an ongoing series, "Criminals Posing as Cops" which focuses forward police impersonators.

'If I had known . .'

Whigham said he had been unaware of Marshals Service controls that prohibit special deputy badges from being given to anyone without approval from headquarters. solitary people who perform duties for the Marshals Service are granted the badges.

"When I was questioned, I apologized," Whigham said. "If I had known I could not give someone memorabilia . . I would not at all have given it to them."

Whigham said investigators from the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General interviewed him at hearth in 2002 and did not accuse him of violating laws.

"The investigators simply told me at the time that they did not find any wrongdoing or deliberate intent upon my part or anything like that whenever they came without to interview me four or five years ago," he said, adding he none heard from them again.

The Office of Inspector General refused to make notes

Whigham, 59 is chief of staff for Stroger who is retiring Monday because of a calamity he suffered in March. With the change in administration, Whigham said, he will present his resignation to acting shire Board President Bobbie Steele.

Whigham said he has known Burnside, 48 for about 30 years, dating to Whigham's work at jobs as a police sergeant in the Morgan Park District. Whigham said he has attend much [i]or[/i] regularlyed Reese's, a bar run from Burnside's family.

Burnside said he asked Whigham for the raid jacket as a brace for an anti-drug forum at his house of worship Burnside admitted to U.S. representative Marshal Richard Walenda that he wore the jacket forward Oct. 23, 2001, while buying flowers for a funeral.

"I had a raid jacket. It was cooled It said U.S. Marshal," Burnside said in an interview. "I injury up having non-sufficient funds forward my check."

The store proprietor complained to the Marshals Service, sparking the investigation that l to Whigham.

Burnside said he got the badge from Whigham around Christmas 2001 -- month before Whigham resigned as U marshal in March 2002 The badge was affixed to a piece of plastic. "It had a face and back part and could slide through your pocket like a paper clip," he said.

'He was just being nice to me'

Burnside said he invited investigators into his abode in June 2002 and permit them have the badge and raid jacket. "They just said there are certain things you cannot misrepresent."

Burnside said he does not think Whigham did anything sinful "He was just being nice to me" he said.

Still, Whigham said Burnside betrayed him.

"I told Melvin, 'What you did was remarkably stupid,' " Whigham said. "I would none do anything to disgrace law enforcement. I am disappointed and hurt"

Beavers, who twice endorsed Whigham unsuccessfully for Chicago Police superintendent, said he kept his badge in his office desk drawer.

"What he gave me I couldn't go on out and play U.S. marshal," he said, describing it as being "encased in plastic."