Fake Badge Fails As Excuse For Glenbrook North Employee's Gun

NORTHBROOK, IL — A Glenview man employed as a "para-professional" at Glenbrook North faces multiple charges after he allegedly displayed a badge to a Northbrook police officer in an attempt to retrieve a gun out of his car following a crash. Police responded to a report of a crash in the GBN parking lot in the 2300 block of Shermer Road around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, where a responding officer found the man and his disabled vehicle, which needed to be towed from the scene, police said.

The driver of the car, Steven E. Schulhof, 60, of the 2600 block of Goldenrod Lane in Glenview, was uninjured. When the tow truck arrived, the officer asked him if he had anything to retrieve, and Schulhof informed him there was a loaded handgun in his car, according to Northbrook police spokesperson Thomas Moore.

In the midst of asking Schulhof about whether he had a concealed carry license, the officer said Schulhof displayed a badge on his waistband, although he never mentioned being with any specific agency or department, Moore said. Police learned a short time later that he was not a member of any law enforcement agency.

Schulhof was taken into custody, processed and released on $50,000 bond, according to the Cook County Sheriff. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Northbrook, Glenview — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Prosecutors approved felony charges for Schulhof in connection with the incident. He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and impersonating a police officer, as well as not having a concealed carry license, which is a misdemeanor.

The cause of the crash has not been established, but Moore said there were no indications at the scene that drugs or alcohol were involved.

A social media account in Schulhof's name describes him as a security consultant. He is listed as an employee in the dean's office on the Glenbrook District 225 staff directory. He has had a license as a private detective since 1995, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

According to a District 225 spokesperson, Schulhof has worked at GBN since 2000 as a "para-professional." He had a total salary of $31,300 and worked 186.5 seven-hour days.

The district released the following statement:

The safety and security of our students and staff is the top priority of Glenbrook High School District 225.
While the incident that resulted in these charges, took place during non-school hours (Saturday evening, August 26) and did not involve any students or other staff members, the employee in question has been placed on administrative leave and he is not allowed on school property or at school events until further notice.

Schulhof could not be immediately reached for comment.

_{Top photo: Steven E. Schulhof booking photograph (Northbrook PD)}