NationStates Jolt Archive

I guess they are letting anyone do police work these days.
CHICAGO (AP) - 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.
Link (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6727523)
Personally I think they should give him a day's worth of pay, tell him never to do it again, and send him home.

That kid wins... at everything.

Maybe they'll make him an undercover officer if or when he finally becomes a cop. :D

Maybe they'll make him an undercover officer if or when he finally becomes a cop. :D

Well he's certainly shown that he has the ability.

Well he's certainly shown that he has the ability.
Indeed.

Let's hope the fact that they'll most likely send him to jail not tarnish that.

Indeed.

Let's hope the fact that they'll most likely send him to jail not tarnish that.

Locking this kid up would certainly be bad for recruitment drives.

Of course it's the Chicago police and they really need a positive spin in the press.

Badly.

warning. is all that required.

Indeed.

Let's hope the fact that they'll most likely send him to jail not tarnish that.

Given it's his first offense, between one and three years of unsupervised probation seems like the most likely outcome to me. Then again, impersonating a police officer is pretty serious. A judge might go apeshit on the kid if he's unlucky.

Kid = police.

or

Kid > police. They both work.

That kid wins... at everything.Yes, he does.

Hey, here's another question:

What will they do about the fact that it took FIVE HOURS for them to realize that he's not a real cop? That kid won't be the only one ivnestigated!

Given it's his first offense, between one and three years of unsupervised probation seems like the most likely outcome to me. Then again, impersonating a police officer is pretty serious. A judge might go apeshit on the kid if he's unlucky.

most judges will know the difference between someone trying to impersonate an officer for illegal activity. and someone who jsut did it because he wanted to be a police officer. just sit the kid down scare him about faking to be a police officer then maybe assign an officer to him to be a mentor and help him down the path to get through school and become a police officer.

In Soviet Russia, police force enter... no, I can't, I simply can't.

In Soviet Russia, police force enter... no, I can't, I simply can't.Good idea. :p

I'll be tracking this. I really hope they find a way to let this kid off. He acted in good faith all along. Just couldn't wait till he reached the legal age.

Even a misdemeanor charge, with no jail time (it's unlikely that he'd actually be jailed) can be a problem for joining the police. Would be especially ironic considering what he'd get the misdemeanor for.

Then, OTOH, if he plays his cards right (!!!), he can avoid pleading guilty (no contest is OK) and have his record expunged when he turns 18, which will be like it has never existed.

In Soviet Russia, police force enter... no, I can't, I simply can't.

It's not Soviet Russia, it's New York you're talking about there.

I'll be tracking this. I really hope they find a way to let this kid off. He acted in good faith all along. Just couldn't wait till he reached the legal age. Yeah seriously, I mean he did it because he wanted to help. And apparently he did an okay job if they didn't find out for so long.


Even a misdemeanor charge, with no jail time (it's unlikely that he'd actually be jailed) can be a problem for joining the police. Would be especially ironic considering what he'd get the misdemeanor for. Be bad PR in general as well.


Then, OTOH, if he plays his cards right (!!!), he can avoid pleading guilty (no contest is OK) and have his record expunged when he turns 18, which will be like it has never existed. Let's hope so.

The best place for this kid is Police Explorers. It's a program with Boy and Girls Scouts that lets teens work with the police, learning procedures, helping with some security details, etc.

My kids both were members when they were younger. They were on rooftop patrol at the mall during the Christmas season, keeping a lookout and reporting suspicious or dangerous activities to mounted patrol officers. They had uniforms (basically jackets with "Police Explorers" lettered across the back).

Of course, with the economy the way it is, the program might have been discontinued. Also, the fact that my kids were in California at the time and this kid is in Chicago might be a negative factor.

In Soviet Russia, police force enter... no, I can't, I simply can't.

Police force enters your 14 year olds! Undetected!

I...um...wow.

He patrolled for five hours and never handed out a ticket? Surely that would have set off some warning bells.

I...um...wow.I think that's most people's reactions. :D

Do the police have any discretion or do they have to press charges?

How did the actual officer he did the patrol with have 5 hours of conversation with him and not pick up on A: he's not an actual cop, and B: he's only 14?

How did the actual officer he did the patrol with have 5 hours of conversation with him and not pick up on A: he's not an actual cop, and B: he's only 14?
I guess the kid either has a really deep voice, or the officer was afraid that commenting would be rude. For some reason, I keep remembering whenever a cartoon woman or kid is pretending to be a man, and they adopt that fake deepness that couldn't convince a deafened idiot.
Unless, of course, he just went with his youth (refuge in audacity, and all that), "They call me the Kid."

I guess the kid either has a really deep voice, or the officer was afraid that commenting would be rude. For some reason, I keep remembering whenever a cartoon woman or kid is pretending to be a man, and they adopt that fake deepness that couldn't convince a deafened idiot.
Unless, of course, he just went with his youth (refuge in audacity, and all that), "They call me the Kid."

Okay, so maybe the kid looked and sounded older. Didn't the other cop pick up on the fact that the kid had never been a cop a day in his life? That he didn't have any experiences being a cop? Even if a kid sounds older, you're going to realize fairly soon into a normal conversation with one that they are not an adult. The officer he was with must have either been a real jerk and ignored him the whole time, or a complete moron.

Okay, so maybe the kid looked and sounded older. Didn't the other cop pick up on the fact that the kid had never been a cop a day in his life? That he didn't have any experiences being a cop? Even if a kid sounds older, you're going to realize fairly soon into a normal conversation with one that they are not an adult. The officer he was with must have either been a real jerk and ignored him the whole time, or a complete moron.

there is a third possibility. what if that cop was also a 14 year old pretending to be a cop?

there is a third possibility. what if that cop was also a 14 year old pretending to be a cop?
Or the entire of the Chicago PD is...

Or the entire of the Chicago PD is...

that would explain a few things. like why so many of them have costume shop mustaches.

Link (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6727523)
Personally I think they should give him a day's worth of pay, tell him never to do it again, and send him home.

wish they could too... but impersonating a police officer is serious.

I...um...wow.

He patrolled for five hours and never handed out a ticket? Surely that would have set off some warning bells.

Only if he also didn't take any bribes.

there is a third possibility. what if that cop was also a 14 year old pretending to be a cop?
Or the entire of the Chicago PD is...
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! All this time I've been living in an episode of the Twilight Zone, and only now the plot twist is starting to be revealed.
Soon it will be revealed that the world is run by a secret cabal of 10-16 year olds who pretend to be adults, and that the adults are pretending to be children, and what we think are dogs are really cats.

The best place for this kid is Police Explorers. It's a program with Boy and Girls Scouts that lets teens work with the police, learning procedures, helping with some security details, etc.

...

Of course, with the economy the way it is, the program might have been discontinued. Also, the fact that my kids were in California at the time and this kid is in Chicago might be a negative factor.

There's a similar program here in Jersey (Sheriffs Explorers) that, to my knowledge, is still running, so there's probably openings in Chicago, too. My best friend was an Explorer, and used it as a stepping stone to intern at the Prosecutors Office, to full-time cop (Although recently there have been a few..."hiccups" in that area...)

Aww I hope this wouldn't deter him from being a cop in the future. He should get a stern warning and some community service. It is a pretty serious thing to impersonate a cop, especially in the post-Ted Bundy years. But this kid did it with earnest so that's some consolation.

I agree - let him off with a warning, then recruit him as an undercover cop when he turns 18.

recruit him as an undercover cop when he turns 18.

wait wait wait. the only thing we know he's good at is impersonating a cop. isn't the ability to convince people that you are in fact a cop the last thing you want in an undercover cop?

wait wait wait. the only thing we know he's good at is impersonating a cop. isn't the ability to convince people that you are in fact a cop the last thing you want in an undercover cop?

He can be the one who provides the distraction for the bubblewrap thiefs, while the real undercover cops take them on. It'l be like he's invulnerable when in fact he's so lost he has no idea where he is or why he's there but as long as he's a cop he doesn't care.

You know, I'm inclined to disagree with everyone saying that they hope the kid can still be a cop some day. His apparent casual disregard for the law and regulations is not a quality I want in a police officer.

That said, I don't think he should get jail.

You know, I'm inclined to disagree with everyone saying that they hope the kid can still be a cop some day. His apparent casual disregard for the law and regulations is not a quality I want in a police officer.

That said, I don't think he should get jail.

He's 14 and wants to be a cop. That doesn't really scream "disregard for the law" to me.

You know, I'm inclined to disagree with everyone saying that they hope the kid can still be a cop some day. His apparent casual disregard for the law and regulations is not a quality I want in a police officer.
I'm fairly sure that if he had any idea that what he's doing is illegal, he wouldn't do it.

It's ignorance of law, not disregard. While ignorance isn't a legal defense, moral-wise, considering he's a minor, it changes things.

Think of yourself when you were 14. You wouldn't think of it as "impersonating an officer of law".

Okay, so maybe the kid looked and sounded older. Didn't the other cop pick up on the fact that the kid had never been a cop a day in his life? That he didn't have any experiences being a cop? Actually the kid DID have experience he was part of a youth program that teaches about that stuff. It's said so in the article.

You know, this never would have flown if he'd tried to impersonate a member of the BART Police.

I hear you have to shoot people in the back while they're lying on the floor. The second he showed up without a gun, the gig would've been up. ;)

I'm fairly sure that if he had any idea that what he's doing is illegal, he wouldn't do it.

It's ignorance of law, not disregard. While ignorance isn't a legal defense, moral-wise, considering he's a minor, it changes things.

Think of yourself when you were 14. You wouldn't think of it as "impersonating an officer of law".

Sometimes when making a good first impression with a company you want to work for, you have to do something unusual that gets their attention and reflects positively upon your abilities, even if that something is technically against the rules. Or, you know, the law.

Sometimes when making a good first impression with a company you want to work for, you have to do something unusual that gets their attention and reflects positively upon your abilities, even if that something is technically against the rules. Or, you know, the law.

err... but if that job was a police officer... breaking the law is not a good way to attract their attention.

err... but if that job was a police officer... breaking the law is not a good way to attract their attention.

But it generally *does* get their attention.

Sometimes when making a good first impression with a company you want to work for, you have to do something unusual that gets their attention and reflects positively upon your abilities, even if that something is technically against the rules. Or, you know, the law.I'm not even sure if he was looking for a job opportunity. I think it's more like he absolutely loves the police force and rational thinking went out the window.

He loves the Chicago PD, I love trains. There doesn't need to be a destination. ^^

err... but if that job was a police officer... breaking the law is not a good way to attract their attention.

On the contrary, it's brilliant! What better way to get their undivided attention? I mean other than bribes, but I already made that joke.

On the contrary, it's brilliant! What better way to get their undivided attention? I mean other than bribes, but I already made that joke.I suppose he could videotape himself beating up a minority or two.

I suppose he could videotape himself beating up a minority or two.

Where do you think this is, Los Angeles? Look, I'm from California too, but not everything is about us!

I can gladly say this kid has made his way onto my Heroes list, and help me laugh at Chicagos finest.

I suppose he could videotape himself beating up a minority or two.

Shouldn't he save that for the actual resume? He might have to beat another minority for that section of his application.

Shouldn't he save that for the actual resume? He might have to beat another minority for that section of his application.There are plenty of minorities to choose from, and as Carlos Mencia puts it "If you're not white in America, it's a big game of tag".

I'm sure that somebody else's number will be called by the time he's old enough to join the force.

Oh, and last time I was in Chicago I witnessed an African American being beaten and handcuffed in front of Neiman Marcus. The more things change...

And I'm entirely kidding, in case all of the above didn't make it obvious. ;)