Charged Chicago cop talks to "60 Minutes"

An officer from an elite Chicago police unit who is among those accused of shaking down civilians has cooperated with federal investigators by allegedly taping conversations with a fellow officer, he told CBS News' "60 Minutes" for a program that aired Sunday.

Keith Herrera, 30, said he was "petrified" when he offered to record his mentor and fellow officer Jerome Finnigan.

"I had the FBI on speed dial on my phone," Herrera told CBS News' Katie Couric.

Finnigan faces charges of plotting to hire someone to kill another member of the unit to keep him quiet as officers were under investigation. Finnigan has pleaded not guilty.

Herrera and Finnigan were part of an elite special operations unit that cracked down on guns and drugs. They are among seven members of the unit charged with abusing civilians.

"To me, he was like Superman," Herrera said of Finnigan. "He was one of the best cops in the city."

An attorney who has represented Finnigan did not immediately return a call for comment Sunday.

Herrera said there was pressure to perform in the unit.

"Get the guns, and get the drugs off the street. No matter what. At any cost. Just get 'em off," Herrera said.

Police Superintendent Jody Weis, who was brought in by Mayor Richard Daley to shake up the department, told Couric it's "horrific" if people were encouraged to engage in any misconduct.

Before Weis took over in Chicago, the police department announced it was disbanding the unit. Then-interim Police Superintendent Dana Starks called incidents involving officer misconduct "disheartening and demoralizing."