14-year-old fake cop caught — only after hours on patrol
January 27, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: HR blunder of the week, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
If employees at your company noticed a worker reporting for duty whom they’d never seen before, would they ask about him?
You’d think so, right?
Well, it took several hours for anyone at a Chicago police station to notice that an officer who reported for duty — and went on patrol with another officer for five hours — was a fake.
And to boot, the impostor was just 14-years-old.
The boy didn’t have a gun, never issued any tickets and didn’t drive the squad car, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Police figured out the teen wasn’t a real cop because his uniform lacked a star that is part of a regulation uniform.
The department is investigating how the ruse went on for several hours. They’re describing the situation as a serious security breach.
The unidentified boy has been charged as a juvenile with impersonating an officer.
Police say the boy looks older than 14 and once took part in a Chicago program for youth interested in policing. They suspect that may have helped him blend in with other officers.
According to a deputy superintendent, the boy didn’t have “ill intent” — he just really wanted to be a police officer.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:30 am
No wonder crime is so high in Chicago with such sharp policemen on duty.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I heard he’s running for Governor next…
February 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Makes me wonder about the real officer he was on patrol with. It took him five hours to notice?
March 21st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Ezra – LMAO
Jim – No kidding! Didn’t the kid ever talk? Had his voice already gotten that deep that he sounded like an adult? I mean, I know kids can look older these days but seriously, a 14 year old looking… what, 18 or older?
And as the article starts out – if he was someone you don’t recognize, no one asks about him??? So in theory, ANYONE could’ve done this. And now everyone knows that if you have something that will pass for their star badge, you’ll probably not get discovered for a very long time.