Guy wearing shirt and hat marked POLICE

[Heavy Metal]

Stopped in a local Wendys for lunch today.

Walked in while guy was eating while wearing a long sleeve pull-over shirt black and ball cap with the word POLICE on both. Had a funny short haircut, almost a shaved head with some front to back lines left intact, a funny pattern, nothing looking remotely regulation.

Was acting goofy, in a most non-professional manor. Goofy.

Had no badge, no sidearm, a shitty cobra FRS blister-pack $15 radio, a small can of joggers pepper spray clipped and not in a carrier and a pair of handcuffs laid over his belt in the small of his back, no carrier to retain them(would make a wonderful melee weapon for someone to grab).

He left shortly after myself and my co-worker sat down (we were in uniform).

Sat my spidey-sense off. Partner had the same observations when we left.

Guy looked like a mall-cop or low-rent security. Did not at all appear to be a sworn LEO of any sort. I strongly suspect he was a guard at a mine site or an equipment storage area.

Kind of wondered if I should have ran out and got his plate and turned it in to one of my contacts in the State Police or DNR when I passed the Detachment later. Does wearing the marked shirt and hat constitute intent to impersonate a police officer minus a shield and ID?

I have seen some local small town police in plain clothes from time to time but they had a proper duty belt, sidearm and their shield. When I see a belt of worn basket-weave leather with a Safarland retention holster on a Glock, it looks a lot more legit. This guy just looked totally out of place, looke more like a druggie than a cop. If he had a sidearm, the only thing that would have fit hid demeanor would have been a Taurus Judge

[tracker722]

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[Abraxas]

Would have served him right if someone would have walked in to rob the place see him and shot him. Not that I wish him or anyone harm.

[jklaughrey]

We have a few of these types around here. I think they just got done watching Superbad and now want to be cops. We usually chuckle and then go about our business.

[bp7178]

Wearing police apparel really isn't the issue, attempting to use the authority of a LEO is. Attempting to make an arrest or detaining someone would be trouble. I doubt we could get charges to stick around here unless they attempted to use authority. Maybe if he had a full uniform, patches and all I could see something going down, but hard to get there just with a goofball in a t-shirt.

The world is full of wanna-be and fanboys.

Wearing the shirt a shirt that identifies you as a police officer is pretty tactically stupid. Some wacko walks in there with a gun, guess who's going to be a prime target.

[Heavy Metal]

He had the gimped-up warbelt too with no retention on the spray or cuffs.

Had an Cobra FRS radio one step above your kids 'my little pony' Walkie-Talkie.

[Mac5.56]

Was there a gay bar in the area, and an all night Village Person theme night going on?

[Heavy Metal]

Truthfully, it did resemble a teenagers halloween costume.

Nope, no such place in Southern West Virginia. I don't think the Village People was the look he was going for.

[GermanSynergy]

Guy sounds like a toolbag.

Truthfully, it did resemble a teenagers halloween costume.

Nope, no such place in Southern West Virginia. I don't think the Village People was the look he was going for.

[Suwannee Tim]

Don't try that in Florida where impersonating a police officer is a felony. I was riding my bicycle on the local trail and passed two women with bicycles and two men without standing and talking. Something didn't seem right. I asked if everything was OK, the men both said "yes" and women both said "no". The men were impersonating police officers and hassling the women but could not produce ID but did threaten me with arrest. I called the local Sheriff's office and put the dispatcher on speaker and the two hauled ass. They were in custody within an hour. Both got felony convictions and prison time.