14-Year-Old Boy Impersonates Chicago Cop, Patrols Streets

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old aspiring police officer donned a uniform, walked into a Chicago police station and managed to get an assignment _ patroling in a squad car for five hours before he was detected, police said Sunday.

The boy did not have a gun, never issued any tickets and didn't drive the squad car, Deputy Superintendent Daniel Dugan said.

Assistant Superintendent James Jackson said the ruse was discovered only after the boy's patrol with an actual officer ended Saturday. Officers noticed his uniform lacked a star that is part of the regulation uniform.

Police said they were investigating how the deception went undetected for so long in what they described as a serious security breach. Police said disciplinary steps are possible pending the outcome of the investigation.

Police didn't identify the boy because of his age. He has been charged as a juvenile with impersonating an officer.

Dugan said the boy looks older than 14 and was motivated by a desire to be an officer, not malice or "ill intent."

The boy once took part in a Chicago program for youth interested in policing, so he would have been familiar with some procedures, perhaps helping him blend in, police spokeswoman Monique Bond said.

Comments

[BarefootSoul]

I see a trend,, Blago, incompetent police, Obama's STATE!!! Watch him try to "distance" himself from Illinois...if anyone could it would be him!!

[furtivelook]

If the kid really wanted to get away with it, he needed to find a suspect to shackle and then beat the crap out of.

[arrows]

Shame on any media outlets that show his name and face. Here in Chicago, the local media blasted both repeatedly as the top story last night.

The whole case says more about the police--who are trying to cover their asses--than about a 14-year old wanna be officer.

[scorpioleidy]

You've got that right! The Chgo. police are beyond embarrassed! I'll bet the look on Jody's face (the new superintendent) was priceless!

[JICC]

This kid will make a fine cop one day (won't be for a lack of b@lls, or passion for the job). Let's see if they find a balanced way of punishing him just in the right degree, no more, no less.

[ChiGuy]

I want to hear more about the very observant officer with whom he was riding.

[postman606]

Big suspension time in his future.

[scorpioleidy]

It was a female cop, and he rode with her for FIVE HOURS!

[mphalen]

What do you expect when you have an FBI agent running a big city police department.

[rjmiller]

That's pretty impressive actually.

[CDMelty]

First our governor and now this. What is Illinois coming to when we have idiots at all levels?