A Chicago police officer is under investigation for allegedly firing his service weapon while on a boat on Lake Michigan off Wilmette, prompting a response by a U.S. Coast Guard boat.
The off-duty officer and a friend were detained after authorities searched the boat and found several weapons, “hundreds of rounds of ammunition,” two coolers of beer and a half-empty bottle of vodka, officials said.
The two men were not charged.
“If it’s an automatic weapon, there are other laws that go into that, but they didn’t have any automatic weapons,” explained Rob DeVoy, chief boatswain’s mate with the Coast Guard.
The Independent Police Review Authority said it is looking into the case. “I don’t know the extent of the situation, but I can tell you that at least one weapon was discharged,” said the agency's attorney, Eric Muellenbach.
The officer remains on active duty, officials said. He could not be reached for comment.
