NATIONAL BRIEFING / ILLINOIS
Chicago police said that the 14-year-old boy who posed as an officer in January drove a patrol car and aided in an arrest, and that seven officers face disciplinary reviews in the incident.
“They weren’t paying attention,” Supt. Jody Weis said at a news conference. “They were lax. I’m very upset. This whole incident is very disturbing.”
The teenager, an aspiring police officer, allegedly wore a uniform and entered a police station through an unlocked back door about 1:30 p.m. Jan. 24. He was issued a radio and rode with a patrol officer for more than five hours, at times using the terminal in the squad car and responding to five assignments, Weis said.
Authorities previously said the teen did not drive a squad car, but Weis said that the boy -- who is too young to drive in Illinois -- spent two hours behind the wheel. The boy also helped in the arrest of a suspect who allegedly violated a protection order.
The teen was arrested and has pleaded not guilty in juvenile court to impersonating an officer.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
