Impersonating a Peace Officer is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person pretends to be a police officer and does something that only a police officer can do. A man was recently alleged to have committed this crime after a road rage incident was reported. According to the report, the Colorado State Patrol received and responded to a call about road rage. The man, who was wearing an Aurora police uniform and was driving vehicle that resembled a patrol car was initially arrested on suspicion of Impersonating a Police Officer. However, the article later reveals that the man will likely only face the careless driving. How is it possible that a man dressed as a police officer in a police car wasn’t impersonating an officer? Let’s find out.
Larimer County Impersonating a Police Officer Lawyer: Definition of Impersonating a Peace Officer in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Impersonating a Peace Officer – C.R.S. 18-8-112 – is:
The key to this crime is that there are two parts:
- Pretend to be a police officer (i.e. wear a police uniform, drive what looks like a police car, state that you are a police officer) AND
- Perform an act that only a police officer can do (i.e. pull someone over, arrest someone, even call someone and tell them to turn themselves in to the police station on a warrant)
Based on the information given in the article, it’s likely the man avoided the charge because he never acted as a police officer. Yes, he was wearing the uniform and driving the car, which, by the way, only had a legal yellow light bar on it, but he didn’t do anything to act as a peace officer. In fact, he did quite the opposite and ended up with a traffic charge for his actions.
Sentencing for Impersonating a Peace Officer in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Impersonating a Peace Officer is a class 6 felony. This level felony is punishable by 12 to 18 months in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Impersonating a Peace Officer, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free initial consultation today. Together, we can protect your future.
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