Off-duty cop may be in foul territory over Jeter autographs

Cop chop shop: It’s a Second City slugfest!

Sneed has learned that a Chicago cop is in dugout doo-doo for allegedly soliciting autographs on sports memorabilia — which he claimed was for a police charity fundraiser — from New York Yankees star Derek Jeter during the Chicago White Sox-Yankees battle at U.S. Cellular Field in May.

Batter up!

Sneed is told the Yankees organization has filed a complaint with the Chicago Police Department about a 9th District Chicago cop who served as extra security at the Cell during the four-game series, claiming the officer broke the rules by soliciting Jeter’s autograph. Sources are questioning the authenticity of it being done for a police charity.

Sneed hears Jeter, the team’s uber star set to retire in the near future, “graciously” agreed to sign the sports items for a Chicago police charity at the request of the policeman — who reportedly asked after helping shuttle Jeter via golf cart from the clubhouse to the Yankee bus, according to an informed source.

“It wasn’t just one item,” said a police source who asked not to be identified. “I’m told it was at least seven items — maybe more − and with Jeter retiring next year his signed sports stuff is going to be worth a fortune.”

Jeter, 40, who announced in February he plans to retire after the 2014 season because “the time is right,” is a veteran shortstop and captain of the Yankees who has played with the team since 1996 and was named Rookie of the Year, World Series MVP and All-Star Game MVP among many awards over the course of his career.

Oh . . . and Jeter won the World Series five times with the Yankees − though his team split the May series with the Sox.

Sneed is told the solicitation of Jeter was reportedly observed by a member of the Yankees security, who are retired New York City cops, and it “infuriated” the security guard, said a second Sneed source.

“They [Yankees security] have never been cordial to the Sox security guys . . . but everyone is always professional,” the source said.

“Only this time it was noted Chicago Police Supt. [Garry] McCarthy is a former New York City cop and a big Yankees fan and one of the New York Yankees security cops was going to make sure McCarthy knew one of his cops had pulled such a stunt.”

Sneed contacted McCarthy, who acknowledged his department did receive a complaint filed about one of his men by the New York Yankees and that it had been dispatched to the Internal Affairs Division for investigation.

“Mike, because the complaint is now in the hands of the IAD, you know I can’t comment on any of it,” said McCarthy, who may be a Bronx bulldog but is ferociously proud of now being a Chicagoan.

Scratch rumors that the Chicago cop has been given a 30-day suspension. Sneed is told IAD has rendered no decision yet.

Stay tuned for the next inning.

CONTINUE READING MICHAEL SNEED’S COLUMN AT SUNTIMES.COM