Two off-duty Chicago police officers were involved in a shootout with a group of men early Sunday after a quarrel outside a Berwyn bar, police said.
One of the officers was slightly injured in the hand. Berwyn police took a 24-year-old man into custody and have a warrant out for another suspect.
Berwyn Public Safety Director Frank Marzullo said that about 2:50 a.m., a man tried to enter a bar called Fuggedaboudit, 7001 W. 16th St., where the off-duty officers were attending a private party. The man was told the bar was only open for the private party and was asked to leave, Marzullo said. Patrons then escorted him out, Marzullo said.
About an hour later, the man returned with three other men, all of whom are believed to be in gangs, Marzullo said. When the officers left the bar, they began to quarrel with the men, Marzullo said.
At some point, two of the men and the officers fired shots at each other, Marzullo said. One officer was injured, although police are not sure if that was from a gunshot.
The four men ran away. One of the men was taken into custody a short time later, and a gun was recovered, Marzullo said. No charges had been filed as of late Sunday.
Police are still investigating who fired first and do not know if the men knew that the two off-duty officers were police. The officers’ names have not been released.
Under Chicago police rules, off-duty officers are allowed to carry their weapons but are not supposed to bring guns into situations where the officers could be incapacitated by alcohol.
“If officers are going to be drinking, they should leave their guns at home,” said Chicago police spokesman David Bayless.
Bayless would not comment specifically about the off-duty officers’ actions Sunday. The department’s Office of Professional Standards was at the scene and will be investigating the officers’ conduct, he said.
Marzullo said Berwyn police believe the Chicago officers’ actions were intended to protect the other patrons.
“You have these four individuals outside, God only knows what they’re waiting for out there,” Marzullo said. “Certainly not to wish the guy inside a happy birthday. At this time there’s no reason for us to believe that anything transpired there other than these officers were worried about the safety of the patrons of this bar.”
Residents who live near the bar said the neighborhood is quiet.
“I heard the shots, and I came out to find this. They shot here and here and here,” said Stan Mirus, who lives about a half a block from the bar, pointing to several bullet holes in his garage door, which faces an alley. “This is the first time we’ve ever had shots like this.”
Marzullo said the bar was supposed to close at 3 a.m. He said the Berwyn Liquor Commission would investigate why the bar was open almost an hour past closing. But he said the department has placed a higher priority on finding the other people involved in the shooting.
