From the Chicago Justice Project, dedicated to bringing transparency to Chicago's justice system.

James Petruzzi

Case #: 00PB2441
Police badge #: 8143
Download original case files
- 00PB2441_Charges.pdf

Recommendation Termination
Decision Resignation
Length of process over 1 year December 21, 2000 to May 16, 2002 Closed

Investigative Agency Not Specified

Charged with violating 5 rules on 7 counts

Show all counts


Rule 1	3 counts	Violation of any law or ordinance. Count 1 On or about February 5, 2000, Police Officer Petruzzi, acting in concert with Police Officer Michael Simpson, committed the offense of Official Misconduct in that they, public employees, acting in their official capacity as Chicago Police Officers, knowingly performed an act which they knew they were forbidden by law to perform, to wit: Police Officers Petruzzi and Simpson committed the offense of Disorderly Conduct in that , while on duty Officer Petruzzi and Officer Simpson were involved in an automobile accident with Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 at or near 3008 North New Castle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and then knowingly transmitted or caused to be transmitted to Chicago Police Department Sergeant Silvia Lopez, a false report indicating that an offense had been committed, to wit: that Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 was struck and damaged by an unknown vehicle at approximately 6:30 a.m. at or near the location of 5949 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois, knowing at the time the report was transmitted that there was no reasonable ground for believing that such offense had committed in violation of 720 ILCS 5/26-1(A)(4), in violation of 720 ILCS 5/33-3(b) Count 2 On or about February 5, 2000, Police Officer Petruzzi, acting in concert with Police Officer Michael Simpson, committed the offense of Official Misconduct, in that they, public employees, acting in their official capacity as Chicago Police Officers, with intent to obtain a personal advantage for themselves or others, performed an act in excess of their lawful authority, to wit: Police Officers Simpson and Petruzzi committed the offense of Disorderly Conduct, in that while on duty, Officer Simpson and Officer Petruzzi were involved in an automobile accident with Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 at or near 3008 North new Castle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and then knowingly transmitted or caused to be transmitted to Chicago Police Department Sergeant Silvia Lopez, a false report indicating that an offense had been committed, to wit: that Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 was struck and damaged by an unknown vehicle at approximately 6:30 a.m. at or near the location of 5949 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois, knowing at the time the report was transmitted that there was no reasonable ground for believing that such offense had been committed, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/26-1(A)(4), in violation of 720 ILSCS 5/33-3(c) Count 3 On or about February 5, 2000, Police Officer Petruzzi, acting in concert with Officer Michael Simpson, committed the offense of Disorderly Conduct, in that while on duty Officer Simpson and Officer Petruzzi were involved in an automobile accident with Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 at or near 3008 North New Castle Avenue and then knowingly transmitted or caused to be transmitted to Chicago Police Department Sergeant Silvia Lopez, a false report indicating that an offense had been committed, to wit: that Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 was struck and damaged by an unknown vehicle at approximately 6:30 a.m. at or near the location of 5949 West Irving Park Road, knowing at the time the report was transmitted, that there was no reasonable ground for believing that such offense had been committed, in violation of Chapter 720, Act 5, Section 26-1(A)(4)
Rule 2	1 count	Any action or conduct which impedes the Department's efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department. Count 1 On or about February 5, 2000, Police Officer Petruzzi, acting in concert with Police Officer Michael Simpson, was involved in an automobile accident with Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 at or near 3008 North New Castle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and then knowingly transmitted or caused to be transmitted to Chicago Police Department Sergeant Silvia Lopez, a false report indicating that an offense had been committed, to wit: that Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172 was struck and damaged by an unknown vehicle at approximately 6:30 a.m. at or near the location of 5949 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois. -
Rule 14	1 count	Making a false report, written or oral. Count 1 Police Officer Petruzzi, acting in concert with Police Officer Michael Simpson, knowingly transmitted or caused to be transmitted, a false report indicating that Chicago Police Department patrol vehicle unit 8172, assigned to Officers Simpson and Petruzzi, was struck and damaged by an unknown vehicle at approximately 6:30 a.m. at or near the location of 5949 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois.
Rule 21	1 count	Failure to report promptly to the Department any information concerning any crime or other unlawful action. Count 1 Police Officer Petruzzi failed to report that he and Officer Michael Simpson were involved in a traffic accident on February 5, 2000 at 3008 N. New Castle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and/or failed to report that Officer Simpson made a false report regarding the circumstances and/or location of the accident.
Rule 22	1 count	Failure to report to the Department any violation of Rules and Regulations or any other improper conduct which is contrary to the policy, orders or directives of the Department. Count 1 Police Officer Petruzzi failed to report that he and Officer Michael Simpson were involved in a traffic accident on February 5, 2000 at 3008 N. New Castle Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and/or failed to report that Officer Simpson made a false report regarding the circumstances and/or location of the accident.

Board Member Votes & Decisions

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Minority Opinions

It is important to understand the cases detailed here are a significant minority of the total complaints filed against officers. A typical year sees about 3–5% of complaints against officers result in a sustained finding of misconduct. A very small percentage of those sustained findings result in discipline that would require the police board to get involved. The data used for this website is taken directly from Police Board documents. The documents were obtained through the Illinois Freedom of Information act. All the documents used as the basis of this website are available for download from the individual case pages. The Chicago Justice Project is an independent transparency organization and is not affiliated in any way with the Chicago Police Board or any other justice agency in Chicago or Cook County.

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