COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The Chicago teen who has repeatedly made headlines for impersonating a police officer — earning the nickname "Kid Cop" — told police after his latest arrest he only wanted to "help people," authorities said.
Vincent Richardson, now 19, was arrested again this week for impersonating a cop.
"I know what it is like to be one of you," Richardson allegedly told police, according to court records. "I respect you because I did it for a day, chasing and helping people. My intentions are never to hurt people, just to help."
The teen drew national attention in 2009 when, at only 14 years old and in the eighth grade, he persuaded an actual police officer that he was a cop and joined the officer on patrol.
He dressed up in uniform, walked into the Grand Crossing station and said he was from a different district. He was assigned to a traffic patrol, signed out a police radio and spent five hours patrolling the streets with another officer, according to the Sun-Times.
The stunt embarrassed Chicago police and infuriated then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, who questioned how so many supervisors blew it. "He's only 14 years old," the mayor said at the time, according to the Sun-Times.
Richardson was locked up in juvenile jail after that adventure. He was charged as an adult this time. He presented himself as an officer at VCG Uniform outlet on West Irving Park Road, according to court records.
Richardson showed up at the store to buy gear on Tuesday, dressed in clothing resembling that of a Chicago police officer, according to court records. He told an employee there that he worked in the Englewood District.
Suspicious, the employee searched the Internet and found reports of Richardson's 2009 exploits.
After his arrest, the Englewood teen allegedly told police that he knew what it was like to be a cop because he spent a day "chasing" people, according to court records. He also allegedly told them that he had no intention of hurting anyone, but wanted to help.
A public defender appointed to represent Richardson said he worked as a security guard.
After hearing the allegations against Richardson, Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan ruled Thursday that he be released on a $25,000 "I" bond, meaning that Richardson would get out of jail later Thursday.
Sullivan also ordered electronic monitoring for Richardson.
