"They shouldn't get to keep anything," said Elizabeth Hydell, a sister of one of the mob cops' victims, Jimmy Hydell, who was kidnapped by the duo and delivered to mob chieftain Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, who tortured and killed him.

His body has never been found.

Hydell said the detectives who bloodied their badges with their secret lives of crime shouldn't be allowed to hold onto any of their honors - because it takes away their meaning.

"They're disgraced," she said. "Those medals should go into the garbage."

The news also angered Marry Ann Dilapi, the daughter of Anthony Dilapi, whose 1990 murder was among those attributed to the cops.

Do I think it's wrong? Of course I think it's wrong. I think it sucks. It's wrong and absurd," Dilapi said, adding that the law should be changed. "It says a big thing about the New York City Police Department."

During the mob cops' sensational two-week trial, Eppolito lawyer Bruce Cutler introduced into evidence a long list of commendations and honors earned by his client during 20 years on the job.

Those medals included the NYPD Medal of Valor, the service achievement award in 1990, a Cop of the Month award in 1987, several honorable mentions and a Community Council Cop of the Month award in November 1974.

Caracappa also garnered a few medals throughout his career - but his lawyer would not detail the commendations.

Detective Anthony Senft, a deserving winner of the Medal of Honor - the department's highest award - said he had no pity for the highly decorated detectives turned dirty.

"Personally, I don't think someone who does something like this deserves anything," he said. "They put a blemish on everyone."

An NYPD spokesman yesterday said stripping the men of their medals "is not being contemplated at this moment," adding: "It's uncertain whether there is a precedent for it."

Ed Hayes, Caracappa's lawyer, said he doubted NYPD officials would strip the men of their medals or the $70,000-a-year pensions each have been collecting. Eppolito retired in 1990, Caracappa in 1992.

"I can't imagine they can take their medals," he said. "I don't think they'll strip them of their medals or their pensions."

In his book, "Mafia Cop," Eppolito claimed he was the 11th most decorated officer in NYPD history. Prosecutors said there was no proof to back up that claim.

Honest cops said that no matter the honors they captured during their careers, the pair have brought shame on the NYPD.

"We go out there trying to be the best we can be, and then these guys think they can do whatever they want. It's a disgrace," said one cop at the Times Square precinct.

Some cops, although disgusted by the criminal acts, believe the medals are something that ought to be left standing. "They can't do that [take away the medals]," said one plainclothes detective at the Midtown North Precinct. "You can't take the medals away. They earned them in the line of duty. That's not a punishment."

All said, the rogue cops' crimes were unacceptable, other members of the Finest said.

"Killing is killing. Mobsters have family, too," said one of the cops from the Midtown North.

If it's still up in the air what will happen to their medals, the men's pensions are strictly off-limits, experts say. "They can't touch it," said one expert on cop pensions and benefits, prompting some honest cops to call foul.

"It doesn't matter whether they keep [the medals] or lose them. They don't mean anything, anyway. The fact that they get to keep their pensions is even worse," said one Midtown cop.

New York City cops, firefighters and correction officers who receive regular retirement pensions are also awarded annual lump-sum payments, known as variable supplements, that now top out at $12,000 yearly, sources said.

The fund is not taxed by the state, and candidates forced to retire because of line-of-duty injuries - whose pensions are free of city, state and federal taxes - don't get the supplement.

In an effort to retain police officers who become eligible for retirement after 20 years of service, the city set up a plan in which cops can "bank" their variable supplement in an interest-bearing account. Eppolito retired on three-quarters disability - he suffers from a heart condition. Both mob cops moved to Las Vegas, where they were neighbors on the same block until their arrests.

The city and NYPD are now ripe to be sued by families of the mob cops' victims, and the convictions are likely to strengthen their case.

"The verdict clearly paves the way for justice for all the families," said Michaelangelo Matera, lawyer for the family of slain Gambino capo Eddie Lino, who was handed over by the rogue cops for his torture and eventual killing.

The family of victim Israel Greenwald also has filed a notice of claim. The mother of Nicholas Guido - an innocent victim who was mistaken for a mobster and fingered for assassination by the rogue cops - has a federal civil suit pending and also plans a state claim.

"We purposely waited until the completion of the trial so that the filing of the lawsuit would not compromise the right of the defendants to a fair trial," said Benjamin Brafman, lawyer for the Greenwald family. "Now that they have been convicted, however . . . they personally, and the City of New York, must be held financially responsible for the grave harm their actions caused to the family of Israel Greenwald."

The two cops face sentencing May 22.