femmefatale

A Chicago, Illinois teen who isn’t even old enough to drive, has been charged with impersonating an officer. He pled not guilty to the act, which can be considered as either a misdemeanor or a felony. The crime of impersonating an officer can hold stiff penalties of heavy fines and jail time, depending on whether the act is considered as having been done to willfully cause harm. The young man was charged as a juvenile, and held at a center due to the judge’s decision that he may be a threat to himself. Police spokesman have said that the lad showed up at Chicago’s Grand Crossing District station, 7040 S. Cottage Grove  Ave. in a police uniform. It is reported that he showed up for duty at about 1:30 pm and went on traffic patrol with a Senior Officer for close to five hours before being found out. This boy was sly enough to tell them he was sent on detail for the day from another district. He then signed out a police radio and ticket book, before going on traffic stops with the other officer, who became suspicious. The teen was wearing police-issued pants, shirt, vest, sweater and skull cap, but lacked a star. The department found no signs that he drove a vehicle, and he was not issued a gun. The youth was able to pull off this great charade due to his participation in a community program done through the Police Department’s Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy, also called CAPS, which involves young people interacting with the Chicago police officers. Apparently, the boy has become immersed in wanting to become a police officer, thus identifying security breaches within the department and landing himself into big trouble.

I do believe that he should be punished, however, it doesn’t seem to be done with ill intent. The kid does need to be taught that you can’t just go around doing things such as this that will get someone hurt, but he should also be encouraged to pursue a career in law enforcement. I guess the biggest question might be whether or not anyone would hire him after such a stunt. I think that any kid that age, who is intelligent and determined enough to pull something like that off should be taught the right way about doing it. You never know, he may end up being great officer material and end up saving some lives one day, instead of getting into trouble and embarrassing real police.