Round Lake Park man gets probation for playing cop

A Round Lake Park man accused of impersonating a police officer was placed on probation Monday after pleading guilty to a reduced charge.

Leonard Knapcik, 54, was sentenced to two years on misdemeanor probation after pleading guilty to attempted impersonation of a police officer.

A Round Lake Park officer making a traffic stop on July 24 saw Knapcik standing in the parking lot of a nearby business wearing a police tactical uniform and wearing a pistol.

The officer asked Knapcik what department he was with, Assistant State's Attorney George Pappas said, and Knapcik replied he was a Lake County sheriff's reserve deputy.

The Round Lake Park officer was aware sheriff's reserve officers do not carry weapons, Pappas said, so he contacted the sheriff's office to verify Knapcik's claim.

Sheriff's officials responded that Knapcik had not been a reserve deputy for at least eight years and the Round Lake officer arrested him.

Knapcik was originally charged with felony impersonation of a police officer and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon because the pistol he was wearing was loaded.

Pappas said he agreed to dismiss the weapons charge and reduce the impersonation charge to a misdemeanor in exchange for Knapcik's guilty plea.

Circuit Judge John Phillips ordered that the pistol Knapcik had at the time of his arrest would be destroyed, and said Knapcik would have to complete any substance abuse or mental health counseling his probation officer recommended.

Phillips also fined Knapcik $500 and ordered him to perform 75 hours of public service.