Chief let a Chicago cop go -- now he may sue for emotional distress

By William Lee

Tribune reporter

August 17, 2009

Like many cops, Chicago Ridge Police Chief Tim Baldermann has walked the line between extending courtesies to outside officers for minor infractions and slapping cuffs on them for more serious crimes. But a courtesy he recently extended to an off-duty Chicago officer is causing him a headache.

Last month, Chicago Ridge police detained off-duty Chicago Police Officer William Singer after he jokingly displayed his handgun to a mall worker without identifying himself as an officer, authorities said.

After his employment was verified, police released him as a courtesy, authorities said, but warned him to show better judgment. Baldermann's office later got a notice from a law firm representing Singer and his wife, claiming emotional distress as a result of the incident.

The July 14 incident has sparked an internal police investigation into Singer's actions at the Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall, according to a Chicago police spokesman.

Singer, 38, was riding a dolphin on a children's carousel at the mall with his wife when the carousel operator excused himself to tend to a crying child, according to a police report. Singer allegedly lifted his shirt showing a handgun and asked, "Do you want me to take care of the problem for you?" the report says.

The operator, unaware Singer was an officer, contacted mall security, who contacted Chicago Ridge police, authorities said.

Police found Singer and handcuffed him, taking him to the mall's security office, where he identified himself as an officer, the report states.

With Baldermann's backing, the officer released Singer and returned his gun, authorities said. The incident was captured on video and entered into evidence, the report stated.

Baldermann said he believes Singer's actions were meant to be a joke, but added that whatever Singer's motives, "It certainly was poor judgment on [Singer's] part."

On July 31, Chicago Ridge police got a notice that the law firm run by Ed Vrdolyak was representing Singer and his wife, Lisa, in their claim. Singer's attorneys have not filed a suit, thus far only requesting that evidence be preserved and insurance information be forwarded to them. Calls to Singer's attorney weren't returned.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Police Department's Internal Affairs Division has opened an investigation into the incident, spokesman Roderick Drew said.

Chicago Ridge Mayor Eugene Siegel, a former assistant chief with the Cook County sheriff's department, said: "That doesn't sound normal. You'd think he'd be grateful for getting a break."

Baldermann said he backs his officers and believes Singer was ultimately responsible.

"There's no doubt in my mind that the officers handled the situation appropriately and professionally," Baldermann said. "It's unfortunate that this individual did not identify himself as a police officer to the mall employee at the time or else it wouldn't have happened the way that it happened."

wlee@tribune.com

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

"There's no doubt in my mind that the officers handled the situation appropriately and professionally," Baldermann said. "It's unfortunate that this individual did not identify himself as a police officer to the mall employee at the time or else it wouldn't have happened the way that it happened."

It's unfortunate that anyone, let alone a cop, thought that displaying a gun and offering to "take care of" a crying child was a good idea.

They should not have cut the "officer" a break for such monumental bad judgment.

It's probably not too late to send the case to a Grand Jury.

This is the CHICAGO Police Department. Nothing violates policy enough to demand out-of-department punishment. Maybe a murder for hire (audio and videotaped, of course) but nothing less.