Cops Accused of Protecting Peterson

Fellow cop never charged in 18 domestic disturbance calls
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 1, 2007 9:09 AM CST
Cops Accused of Protecting Peterson
Bolingbrook Police Lt. Ken Teppel speaks about the recent disappearance of Stacy Peterson, wife of former Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson, at the police station in Bolingbrook, Ill., Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007. The disappearance of Stacy, and the questions surrounding the death of one of his...   (Associated Press)

In the two years before Kathleen Savio was found dead in a bathtub, local police responded to 18 domestic disturbance calls at the suburban Chicago house she shared with policeman husband Drew Peterson, AP reports. Charges were filed twice—against her. Her death is now suspected to be murder and the town's residents wonder if  their cops protected one of their own.

Savio repeatedly accused Peterson of beating her and threatening to kill her, but no charges were ever filed against him, AP reports. She was acquitted twice of domestic battery charges. Peterson's second wife, Vicki Connolly, also said he hit and threatened to kill her, and that cops came to the house several times, but no reports were ever filed. A police lieutenant denied that officers gave their fellow cop any special treatment. (More Drew Peterson stories.)

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