A 14-year-old boy accused of impersonating a police officer and going on patrol for five hours has pleaded not guilty.
The teenager appeared in a Chicago juvenile courtroom on Monday in a purple sweater with his hands cuffed behind his back. A judge ordered that he be held at the juvenile center because he could pose a danger to himself.
Rev. Roosevelt Watkins, a South Side Minister, said the arrest was shocking but not a surprise. Watkins and his wife took in the 14-year-old for 11 months after the boy’s mother kicked him out of the house for being defiant.
"He's crying out for someone to help him because he's technically homeless," Watkins.
Rev. Watkins said the teen was arrested in December, 2007 for impersonating a police officer and again last month at the Ford City shopping mall while wearing a police uniform.
On Sunday, Chicago Police said the boy came dressed up in a regulation uniform and worked five hours of a shift at the Grand Crossing District police station. It's unclear where he got the uniform.
"He has a fantasy, he's infatuated with becoming a police officer," Rev. Watkins said.
The boy reportedly was able to get a police radio, ticket book and ride with an officer for several hours before being questioned by a sergeant who realized his true identity. Because the boy had been in a "police explorer" program where he shadowed officers, he was able to follow procedures with out being noticed.
The boy now faces felony charges of impersonating a police officer.
sean488 on January 5th, 2020 at 00:08 UTC »
I was an Explorer as well. It was common for me to just show up fully dressed when I wanted to ride. Most of the officers and detectives knew me. But this was at my sponsored sheriff's office. One day we had a meeting at the police department. As I was checking in a police officer asked if I was the new cadet. I chuckled (because it was a common joke) and said Yes. He handed me gear and said, "well, let's go".
rankt on January 4th, 2020 at 23:50 UTC »
Kid was thinking ahead. Even entry level jobs these days won't hire you unless you have 10 years experience
DocDerz on January 4th, 2020 at 23:14 UTC »
That boy/man has since been arrested two additional times for impersonating a police officer. There's a lot more detail about the initial incident in this Chicago Tribune write up:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-cop-impostor-update-20150504-story.html
A few of the more fascinating bits: