Today's Doofus award is a collective one, to the police precinct in Chicago that let this happen.
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.
Yes, this is funny, and full marks to the youngster for creativity . . . but what if he'd got into a shootout with a criminal? What if his partner had thought he could rely on him to back him up, only to find out - perhaps at the cost of his life or good health - that he was mistaken?
This should have been picked up before he ever got into a patrol car. Bad blunder, Chicago P.D.
Peter
That's just the version that was given to the news. There is another version on Second City Cop. The truth is probably somewhere in between.
ReplyDelete-Tim
"A serious security breach"?
ReplyDeleteGee, ya think?
A 14 year old kid. Next time, a trained terrorist?
Hey, it's Chicago. He paid his money and got his choice.
ReplyDeleteFor all that, I suspect he'd make a better cop than some on the Chicago payroll.
If you only knew how bad things are for the CPD! According to scuttlebut from some Chicago cops, this kid actually drove the squad car and even pursued and caught/cuffed a suspect. The CPD morale is in the toilet and the beat cops are livid at the condition of their department. The entire blame has to go directly to the top with Mayor Dailey and Superintendent Weiss accepting their roles in the destruction of a once fine department. And to think that our new Messiah came from this same political machine. God Help Us All!
ReplyDeleteThe Chicago police brass became suspicious when, after five hours, the boy hadn't assaulted any bartenders or killed anybody in the subway.
ReplyDelete