Jeffrey Zlotkowski had been a Chicago Police officer for 27 years. He had 46 honors and awards. He had no prior sustained complaints.

On the evening of August 8, 2021, he was off duty, in his personal vehicle, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, when something in traffic made him angry.

What happened next cost him his career and nearly his freedom.

The Road Rage Attack

At approximately 7:00 p.m. near 107th Street and Homan Avenue on Chicago’s Far South Side, Zlotkowski pulled alongside a Hispanic man in traffic and accused him of running a stop sign.

He identified himself as a police officer but showed no identification.

He called the man an asshole and a jag-off.

He challenged him to get out of the car.

He swung at him through the open car window, partially striking his head.

The man, who did not believe the casually dressed driver in a personal vehicle was actually a police officer, stayed in his car, drove away, and called 911.

Zlotkowski followed him.

According to the victim, Zlotkowski drove so closely that he almost crashed into his car at times.

He Followed Him Home

When the man arrived at his residence and attempted to enter his home, Zlotkowski chased him up the front steps and grabbed him, putting him in a headlock, according to the victim, two witnesses, and Zlotkowski’s own partial admissions at the scene.

Zlotkowski continued to be verbally abusive throughout, including threatening to shoot the man’s dogs.

The man could smell alcohol on Zlotkowski and believed he was drunk.

He knocked on his door for help. The two men fell down the front steps. The man’s stepfather came outside, and the situation de-escalated.

A neighbor described Zlotkowski to responding officers as a drunk cop from Mt. Greenwood.

He Claimed He Could Not Remember

When interviewed by COPA, Zlotkowski claimed that due to a concussion sustained during the incident, he had no memory of anything after turning onto 108th Street.

He could not remember following the man home, grabbing him, or putting him in a headlock.

However, COPA found his selective memory unconvincing.

While claiming to remember nothing unfavorable to himself, Zlotkowski could clearly recall what the victim said to him during the initial confrontation and exactly how he retrieved and displayed his police identification.

COPA found his concussion claim not credible as a blanket excuse for the events at the man’s home.

The Cover-Up Attempt

When Officers Marcus Turner and Sandra Alvarez responded to the scene, the victim told them multiple times that he believed Zlotkowski was drunk.

A neighbor also told the responding officers Zlotkowski was intoxicated. Despite hearing those allegations repeatedly, Officer Turner never told his supervisor, Sergeant Tara Richardson, that anyone had accused Zlotkowski of being drunk.

Richardson was therefore unable to order a breathalyzer test or make required notifications about an off-duty officer who may have driven drunk and assaulted a civilian.

COPA sustained a finding against Officer Turner for failing to conduct a thorough preliminary investigation.

CPD filed a partial non-concurrence defending Turner, arguing that his partner Officer Alvarez was never investigated for the same failures.

COPA Recommended Termination

Following its investigation, COPA sustained all five allegations against Officer Zlotkowski.

Unjustified verbal altercation with the victim

Following the victim home without justification

Excessive force by grabbing and pushing the victim

Driving without due regard for the safety of others

Placing the victim in a headlock without justification

COPA recommended separation meaning termination from the Chicago Police Department.

Superintendent Larry Snelling signed the concurrence letter on January 9, 2025, agreeing that CPD would seek separation.

He Retired Before Being Fired

Officer Zlotkowski retired from the Chicago Police Department before charges could be filed with the Chicago Police Board.

That retirement means he was never formally terminated. It also means he keeps his pension, the retirement benefits accumulated over 27 years as a Chicago Police officer.