Impersonating a police officer, I have been charged- need advice.?

Question

Long story short, (1) my car and apartment have been broken into 3 times- I create my car to look like a deterrent so no one would break in. During this time, I called the PD and they said it was fine as long as u don't put anything that says police on it. I did what he said and had no more break ins; other officers saw my car and agreed it was fine as well. (2) Now I do dispatch for the PD, so I am at a club; me and some crime prevention officer get into it because he didn't want me to park my car in a certain area. So he gets mad, and I explain to him that I dispatch for the PD. and I want to be closer to the door. So a couple of days later a police pulls up to my house and gives me a citation for improper blue lights. (that made no sense- I don't have blue lights) (3) I wore a police shirt at a another club, and did no police activities, ( I wore it in consideration to the fact that I support the police) (thin blue line) some crime prevention guy says they remember me at some academy graduation. I did not respond. (4) Then I am told to come in and void the fraudulent ticket, I get to the PD Dept and I am arrested. So because of the guy at the first club, I am now being charged with impersonating a police officer. Any remarks or ideas for a defense here? and what would you do in this circumstance? I would prefer more mature answers please- and don't state the obvious thanks, that won't help. I am looking for ideas here, and getting an attorney is apparent.

Answer 1

Every private citizen is allowed to wear a "Police" shirt, that's not against the law!

I see people wearing _PD shirts all the time, what the h**l, my g/f bought me one in NYC that said NYCPD.  

As for the car, I'm not to sure about, the only thing you can do is take a picture of it and bring it to court with you. I dint see a problem with you putting a light on top of your car when parked at your house, that's not impersonating. Impersonating is announcing or making people believe that you are a police officer through your actions (not wearing clothes), but rather stating that you are one.

I dont think there will be any legit charges brought against you when you state your case. (i hope you have a clean record up to this date though)

Answer 2

If you had no blue lights, how did you get cited for it? Wearing a Police shirt was a big mistake. I don't think an attorney will do you much good but you sure do need one.

Answer 3

For impersonating a police officer your punishment will be 12 months in a dirty, dark and dingy dungeon prison with rat vomit as food and marathon butt bashing with the prison wardens impersonating George Micheal in a police mans outfit.

You deserve a proper spit roasting.

Answer 4

Ha Ha...you hung around with them and they turned on you. I hope you learn your lesson.

Answer 5

good luck with that

Answer 6

You left out the most important part, where did this happen...[city, state].

Answer 7

Well you sound like a wanna-be in my opinion, the car, announcing that you work for a PD, wearing LE clothing items.  

That stated, why in the world would you think that if you made your car look like a cruiser it would be a deterrent?  People will target vehicles, homes, ect just because they believe it might belong to a LEO, the reason I have nothing LE related on my POV or lying around my house.  

Then going to clubs wearing LE clothes (you'll make a great target) and announcing to someone that you work for a PD (once again can you say target).  As someone else said you are a dispatcher (or so you say) why do you need to be parked close to the door?  You are not a LEO.

Let me guess you also have a scanner, try to use 10 codes and LE terms in everyday conversation, and bug on-duty LEOs every chance you get because you think you're one of us.  I've never understood the people who have FOP tags on their car or any other LE related stickers, wear LE related clothes in public, or openly tell people that they are LEOs or give people that impression.  

My guess is there is more to the story and that you were impersonating a LEO.  Plead guilty, get a life and stop being a wanna-be.  

Answer 8

You don't have a defense. Obviously you came off as an officer and you weren't. If you want to do all of these things then go to the academy and become an officer.

Answer 9

LOL!! Impersonating a police officer. That's hilarious!!! lmao

Just talk to the two guys who said it was ok and let them know so they may be able to help you in court.

Answer 10

Most of your story has been addressed. Just to clear something up, pretty much everything about Chris' (the third poster) answer is wrong. Calling you in to clear up a 'fraudulent' citation for the purpose of arresting you is not illegal.  

Answer 11

you obviously tried to lead people to believe that you were an leo.....the only thing that bothers me in your defense is that you say they called you in to void a fraudulent (that's weird ~ fraudulent and they ADMIT it?) citation.....if they called you in under the pretense of  doing  one thing and did another, I'm not so sure that's not entrapment....they could have just issued a warrant and came to your home to arrest you.....if they had just waited until you showed up for work to arrest you then you would have no defense...also....if there were no blue lights on your car then they couldn't have cited you for them so either a) you did have blue lights and you are lying or b) you didn't have them and the citing officer lied....you should not have used the fact that you worked for pd as an excuse for special treatment for parking or as a favor from an actual officer....h**l, i'm and accountant but i dont expect special treatment from Internal Revenue for not paying my taxes.... and last in your defense....you may have been dressed in a police shirt but so long as you did not identify yourself to anyone as an leo and you took no action as an leo you were not impersonating an leo....problem is here that the burden of proof is on you....i would suggest that in the future you leave work at work, deal with the break ins or install some kind of security camera to catch the person(s) breaking into your home/car

Answer 12

Well since you were not too specific I will try my best to help you.

You made your car to look like a derrent?  I assume that you made some additions that would make people believe it was a police car.  If you installed lights (red/blue) anywhere on the car, thats illegal.  Any police officer that says it isn't lied.

You are a police dispatcher.  And that means your what?  Your still not a police officer.  Dispatchers are not police and carry no police powers.  A few agencies I am aware of employ real cops to work the phones but most dispatchers are civilians.

You were told not park in a certain area and got into it with a cop.  And you tried to smooth it over by telling him you work for the police.  Because dispatchers are on call and need to respond immediately to.....to....anwser the phones.  Very well, I will not address that one.

You wore a police shirt to a club?  Basically, idenitifing yourself as a police officer.  Regardless of whether you took police action or not, the general public viewed you on that night as the police.  Therefore, you were impersonating a police officer.

Now, I imagine that some parts of your story have been left out.  So, here is the best defense you should use.  Plead Guilty, pray you keep your dispatching job and promise never to do it again.

As a side note, how many cops do you know?  How many cops do you know that walk around off duty is apparel and vehicles that identify them as cops?  And what could you have possibly been thinking walking into anywhere, wearing a shirt with POLICE on it?  God forbid something went down that night and you were called to action because people thought you were the police.  I have been with my Sheriff's Office for 10 years and not once in 10 years have I ever worn my SHERIFF shirt out when I was not working.  Seriously guy, you messed up huge.