An off-duty Chicago Police officer has been stripped of his arrest powers after he allegedly fired multiple times at an off-duty suburban cop who tried to pull him over after suspecting he was driving drunk, law enforcement sources say.
No one was hit by the gunfire, which happened about 4 p.m. Sunday near the Chicago Police Department’s Morgan Park District station on the Southwest Side.
The 52-year-old Chicago cop, who has been assigned to the Morgan Park District, was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Other charges are possible, police said.
“If the allegations are true, the actions and behavior demonstrated by this officer are beyond unacceptable, have absolutely no place in our department, and he will be separated from CPD,” according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department.
The off-duty Chicago cop was driving his personal vehicle with a fellow off-duty Chicago officer in the passenger seat when an off-duty Merrionette Park police officer pulled his vehicle behind them at 111th and Kedzie.
The Merrionette Park officer got out and showed his badge to get the off-duty officer out of his vehicle because he was allegedly driving erratically.
But the off-duty Chicago cop drove away. The Merrionette Park officer called 911 and followed the other vehicle. They stopped in the 1900 block of West Pryor near the Morgan Park station.
The Chicago cop is accused of exiting his vehicle with a gun in his hand and walking toward the Merrionette Park officer’s vehicle, sources said.
The Merrionette Park officer ducked and drove away as the off-duty Chicago cop allegedly fired his weapon at the fleeing vehicle about five times, sources said.
The Merrionette Park officer went inside the police station to report the incident, and the off-duty Chicago cop allegedly left the scene.
The off-duty cop was later taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The Independent Police Review Authority is also investigating. The agency examines every reported discharge of a weapon by Chicago Police officers, a spokesman said.
