Local Police Reports

Charges Made in 2006 Slaying of Metra Police Officer


Chicago, IL–(ENEWSPF)–November 12, 2010.  A former Harvey resident has been charged with the murder of Metra Police Officer Thomas Cook following a long-term, joint investigation by the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, authorities announced today.

State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced that Jemetric Nicholson, 23, formerly of Harvey, has been charged with First Degree Murder of a Peace Officer in connection with the slaying of Officer Cook, who was shot and killed while on duty on September 27, 2006.

Alvarez was joined in making the announcement by Tim McCarthy, Chairman of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, as well as other law enforcement members of the task force at the Riverdale Police Department, where Officer Cook had worked as a police officer prior to joining the Metra Police Department.

“Few crimes tear at the fabric of our community like the murder of a police officer,” Alvarez said.  “As members of law enforcement, we realize the impact of this crime and we will always work as hard and as long as it takes to bring those responsible to justice.”

According to prosecutors, Officer Cook was slain as he sat in his marked squad car while working a security detail for the Metra Police Department monitoring the safety of passengers as they exited the 147th Street Metra train station in Harvey.

Nicholson and another individual, Jeremy Lloyd, planned to rob Officer Cook of his service weapon in order to replace several guns that they had lost earlier in the day after police attempted to apprehend them for shooting at rival gang members, according to prosecutors.

According to prosecutors, Nicholson, who had directed Lloyd to act as a lookout during the robbery, approached Officer Cook’s squad car from the rear, pointed a gun into the driver’s window and fired two shots into the head of Officer Cook.  When investigating officers arrived on the scene, they discovered that Officer Cook’s service revolver was missing.

In August of 2008, Task Force Investigators recovered the weapon buried in a back yard in Robbins.

Chief McCarthy thanked all of the members of the task force “who worked tirelessly over the past four years to bring these criminals to justice.”

“We all know that the murder of a member of the criminal justice system strikes at the very heart of the judicial system and puts all of our citizens at risk,” McCarthy said.

Lloyd was arrested and charged for his role in Officer Cook’s murder in January of 2009 and last month he plead guilty and agreed to testify against his accomplice.

Nicholson appeared in bond court this morning at the Sixth District Courthouse in Markham.  He was already being held in custody at Cook County Jail without bond for nine other pending felony cases including another first degree murder and for the attempted murder of a police officer.

Alvarez thanked Chief McCarthy and all the members of the task force for their hard work on the investigation.

The public is reminded that criminal charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

Source: statesattorney.org


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