In the latest incident, Skokie police photographed Saxton's 2014 Ford Police Interceptor about 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 7 in a parking lot near the AMC Showplace Village Crossing theaters, 7000 N. Carpenter Road in the north suburb, according to an internal bulletin issued by Skokie police.



It had lights mounted in the front and rear windows, as well as a spotlight on the driver's side, a siren and light control box and front doors labeled as having "ballistic panels," according to the Skokie bulletin.



The first incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on July 23, 2007, in the 5200 block of North Miltimore Avenue, according to court and police records. He was driving a black Ford Crown Victoria with red flashing lights and was stopped because the car resembled one "associated with a police impersonator," according to the bulletin.



Saxton told officers he added the red lights because he thought police cars "looked cool," according to the bulletin.



He was charged with a misdemeanor count of having illegal flashing, oscillating or amber lights on his vehicle, according to the bulletin. The charge was later dropped, according to court records. Saxton joined the Chicago police force in 2012.



When Skokie police informed Chicago police last week about Saxton's car and raised questions about his 2007 arrest, Saxton was placed on desk duty in his district pending an internal affairs investigation, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in an email.



Chicago police officers aren't allowed to use private cars outfitted with police-style emergency equipment, Guglielmi said.



"The superintendent ordered an immediate internal affairs investigation into the hiring practices, the 2007 arrest and his use of both" the 2014 Ford and the Crown Victoria he was driving when arrested in 2007, Guglielmi said.



Using such a car would require "special authorization by the superintendent of police. No such circumstances exist here in Chicago and all officers must use department-owned, rented or leased vehicles when conducting official law enforcement duties or department business," Guglielmi said.



Saxton did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday evening.