Alsip Man Charged With Impersonating Cop

ORLAND HILLS, IL -- An Alsip man was arrested after he allegedly flashed a fake police badge to another officer about to pull him over for an improper lane change. Prosecutors said he is currently on court supervision after pleading guilty to DUI.

Derrick Goard, 25, a former Homewood-Flossmoor High School football star, appeared before Cook County Judge John Gallagher on a felony charge of impersonating a police officer. According to the charges, Goard was driving down LaGrange Road around 6:17 p.m. May 9 when an Orland Hills officer saw him make an improper lane change.

The officer road alongside Goard’s vehicle, when Goard held up a five-point star on a lanyard indicating he was a “Patrolman Special Police,” the prosecutor said. Goard allegedly told the police officer “I’m the police” and claimed he was enrolled in the police academy at 26th and California. Police later determined that Goard was not a police officer, nor was he attending the police academy, the prosecutor said.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Goard played football for the University of North Dakota. He is currently being held on a no bond warrant.