Zinke "investigation"

On Wednesday, December 19, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren blew off any investigation of Zinke by the DEA. Say it ain't so, Keith.

Supposedly, DEA agent-in-charge Brian Besser, in Rockford, told Nygren that the DEA “would be in touch with (him) if they found any violation of federal laws or any policies with the DEA.”

Besser is probably (ok, well, I won't say it), after he heard that. If the DEA decides to charge Zinke, they'll be smart enough not to tell Nygren until after they arrest Zinke.

Nygren continued to the Northwest Herald reporter, “I've never been contacted back. My assumption is they're finished with this thing.”

Great police work, Keith. You make us really proud. Did you give Besser your cell phone number, so he could reach you in Minocqua or Cape Coral? Or is he supposed to call the Undersheriff, if you aren't in?

Nygren dismisses the allegations against Zinke by claiming the Feds “looked” at them, and then the State (must mean the McHenry County State's Attorney) looked. (How about the Appellate Prosecutor? The Illinois State Police? The Illinois Attorney General?) And now the MCSD is “having a look”.

He claims that is a three-pronged investigation. Does he even understand what a “three-pronged investigation” is?

Whom do you think he put in charge of a MCSD investigation of Zinke? Zinke? Somebody lower in the food chain than Zinke? (That's everybody.) If he asked for volunteers to step forward, did everybody take one step back? Did he appoint someone in the in-crowd at MCSD to investigate Zinke?

Or did he appoint somebody with the backbone to make a thorough investigation and report his findings (knowing that he'd better have his next employer lined up or be old enough to retire)?

There is only one person higher in rank than Zinke.


Maybe Keith ask the Illinois State Police to come in and investigate. Be sure to get someone from Investigations Zone 1, not from Patrol District 2. No friends allowed.

Who has faith in any internal investigation into Zinke's outing of the DEA investigation?

Don't miss the re-hash of the “disgruntled employee” line (meaning Koziol) by the reporter and the dig at Koziol's attorney having “ties” to an announced challenger to Zinke in the 2014 sheriff's election. What does attending law school at the same time have to do with something years later?

I don't know Sgt. John Koziol, but I certainly admire him for having the guts to stand up to the Keith and Andy Show and making sure that the public learned about Zinke's revealing a confidential DEA investigation to Brian Goode.

The reporter wrote twice in Wednesday's article that Brian Goode is a “close friend” of Zinke. Has she got that right? Is Goode a close friend of Zinke? Or is he a really a “close friend” of Keith Nygren? Goode interests have donated $50,000 to Nygren's political activities over the past ten years, and Nygren appointed Goode to the Sheriff's Department Merit Commission in 2004. Do Goode and Zinke see each other socially? Do their families get together? Has Zinke been a frequent guest in Goode's home? Do they pal around on vacations? Maybe they do.

Goode donated $5,000 to Zinke in September, only two months after Zinke told Goode about the DEA investigation. Why is he donating money to Zinke so far in advance of the 2014 election?