Tinley Park police officer nabs phony cop: chief

A Park Forest man impersonated a police officer in Tinley Park and drove a vehicle that would’ve been mistaken for a squad car if not for the license plates, police said.

On Tuesday, an officer saw what appeared to be a police squad car driving in the area of 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue and he noticed the license plates were not the kind issued for that type of vehicle, according to Tinley Park Police Chief Matt Walsh.

The officer looked up the license plates and learned it belonged to Julian Morris, 23, of the first block of South Arbor Trail, Walsh said.

The officer saw Morris park his car at a store nearby and walk inside, Walsh said. He said the officer saw Morris was dressed like a police officer, with a vest and body armor.

The officer met with Morris and had a conversation that eventually resulted in Morris admitting he was not a police officer, he said.

Walsh commended the officer’s investigation of Morris.

“He did a really nice job noticing this because other than the plates, everything looked legitimate,” he said.

Morris was charged with false impersonation of a police officer and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, court records show.

A criminal complaint filed against Morris alleged he falsely represented he was a police officer while in possession of a Ruger 9 mm pistol.

The complaint alleged he knowingly carried the loaded firearm and he had not been issued a “currently valid license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.”

Morris was taken to the Will County jail after his arrest. He posted 10% of his $15,000 bond and was released Thursday.