A former Chicago area police chief, who was caught on body camera footage declaring "I'm the f***ing chief of police" at the scene of a crash, is set to appear in court on DUI and resisting arrest charges.
Walter Klimek, who served as police chief in Bridgeview, Illinois, from 2013 to 2016, was arrested in December 2024 in Justice, Illinois, after he allegedly crashed his vehicle into a guardrail and another car while speeding, WGN-TV reported.
The collision injured a passenger in the other vehicle. Officers responding to the scene found Klimek uncooperative, refusing to exit his car and later declining a blood test at the hospital.
Newly released body camera footage from the Justice Police Department captured Klimek's erratic behavior during the arrest. The video shows him resisting officers, yelling profanities and at one point insisting he was still in charge, despite being taken into custody.
"I'm the f***ing chief of police of Bridgeview," Klimek said as he resisted arrest. "Why you do this to me?"
Officers had to physically remove him from his vehicle and place him on a stretcher.
"Let's be a grown adult now," an officer said.
At the station, Klimek allegedly continued to argue about his arrest, slurring his speech and denying that his car had been towed.
Klimek faces charges of misdemeanor DUI and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court at the Markham Courthouse on Wednesday.
