Impersonating a Police Officer

Although it is generally not considered a crime to dress up as a police officer for Halloween, for fun, or for harmless pranks, it is a crime to identify yourself as an officer of the law to purposefully deceive other individuals and gain advantage through such deceit. Impersonation may include dressing as an officer of the law or simply falsely identifying oneself as an officer to someone else.

Crimes of theft, burglary, assault, home invasion, and many others have been committed by individuals impersonating officers of the law, and a conviction on such charges can result in serious punishment. If you have been accused of impersonating a police officer, contact the Milwaukee criminal defense attorneys of Hart Powell, S.C. at (414) 271-9595 today.

Impersonation

The crime of impersonating an officer of the law may include:

• Wearing a uniform that resembles an officer of the law and attempting to apprehend other individuals
• Verbally identifying yourself to others as a police officer
• Displaying a police-like badge to another person to deceive them into thinking you are a commissioned officer
• Modifying or customizing a vehicle to look like an authentic police vehicle. This can include stickers, paint, or accessories like lights and sirens.

While it is not uncommon for people to pretend they are police officers for the purpose of entertainment, it is illegal to do so for the purpose of gaining advantage over another person. This is especially true for individuals who commit crimes against others while impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Contact Us

If you stand accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer, contact the Milwaukee criminal lawyers of Hart Powell, S.C. at (414) 271-9595 to formulate your defense.