A Calumet City police detective who disguised himself as a pizza deliveryman to help solve an armed robbery case was recognized recently for his dangerous role in the investigation.
Calumet City Police Chief Russell Larson last week awarded a medal of distinction to Detective Casey Erickson.
After a series of pizza deliverymen in Calumet City and other communities were robbed at gunpoint at vacant homes, the police contacted pizza parlors and asked them to call if they got calls to a suspicious address. When the call came in November, 27-year-old Erickson delivered.
"Casey Erickson put himself at great risk considering the defendants were armed and went to the home carrying the order ... and sure enough they attempted to rob him," Larson said. "As a result of his performance, all six individuals were arrested and charged with robberies in our town and neighboring towns.
"We have lots and lots of great officers," Larson said. "He's one of the best."
Erickson, who has been with the department five years, volunteered. There wasn't much time to think over the decision, he said.
"We knew they ordered pizza, and if I wasn't there within 45 minutes, we wouldn't have time to catch the guy," he said.
Erickson and another detective had worked on an investigation of another robbery.
"We figured why not get in the middle of this one so that way we could tie it all together," he said.
Although it was a dangerous assignment, Erickson said he felt confident.
"We had so many other people out there, members of our department, tactical officers, patrol and the Illiana Regional Gang Task Force," he said. "We had about 20 other officers out there and other people in the car with me. I knew they were watching my back, so I wasn't too nervous about it, but I was a little nervous."
Ironically, it wasn't the first pizza Erickson delivered. Back in college, he was a pizza deliveryman for six or seven months "to earn a little extra cash," he said.
"I kind of felt the guy's pain, after talking to the first victim and looking at pictures of his injuries," Erickson said. "They really did a number on him. We figured we had to act quick, so many officers were out there, just trying to get the operation going smoothly, and no one was injured."
