Random question i have

brad98801 · Mar 22, 2013

I spent a few years in NY when I was younger and I support the police fire depts. and such as much as the next guy so I have a bunch of nypd fdny ect shirts that I've collected over time aside from most likely looking funny or whatever is it against the law to wear a police dept shirt while OC or even CC?

skidmark · Mar 22, 2013

Does the shirt have a badge on it? If so, that's more likely to be seen as impersonating a police officer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NYPD-T-Shir...New-York-City-Police-Department-/110936877520 Although "officially licensed" by the NYPD it may noit be "officially approved" by your local PD or prosecutor.

Are the shirts "raid" style with POLICE stenciled across the front and back? Again, it may rise to the level of impersonating a police officer.

Are the shirts like hundreds of other NYPD/NYFD "tribute" shirts? THis http://www.ebay.com/itm/Navy-NYPD-T...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item6fcd211486 is less likely to get you in trouble. Even less so if you wore this http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Amazing...icially-Licensed-by-Marvel-NYPD-/170877669421 - although you might suffer public humiliation.

stay safe.

brad98801 · Mar 22, 2013

Most of the shirts I have are like the first one you posted with either the nypd or fdny logo(badge) on the front and nothing on the back cept the nyfd shirts have the logo on the front and say "fdny" on the back

EMNofSeattle · Mar 22, 2013

skidmark said:
Does the shirt have a badge on it? If so, that's more likely to be seen as impersonating a police officer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NYPD-T-Shir...New-York-City-Police-Department-/110936877520 Although "officially licensed" by the NYPD it may noit be "officially approved" by your local PD or prosecutor.

Are the shirts "raid" style with POLICE stenciled across the front and back? Again, it may rise to the level of impersonating a police officer.

Are the shirts like hundreds of other NYPD/NYFD "tribute" shirts? THis http://www.ebay.com/itm/Navy-NYPD-T...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item6fcd211486 is less likely to get you in trouble. Even less so if you wore this http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Amazing...icially-Licensed-by-Marvel-NYPD-/170877669421 - although you might suffer public humiliation.

stay safe.

But the OP lives in Washington. To say the least I'm not usually afraid of the New York City, Washington police becuase there is none! The applicable law also requires someone act in a way that would give someone the impression he actually is a sworn officer. the law is RCW 9A.60.045. It requires that one give the impression they're a law enforcement officer and "act with intent" to convey the impression of official capacity.

A prosecutor would have a hard time making the case for department t shirt of a department that holds no authority located 2500 miles away. Now if he claimed to be a NY officer when stopped by the police to claim LEOSA maybe.... But just wearing a shirt... Doubt it.

.45ACPaddy · Mar 22, 2013

There's a custodian at my work that wears a FDNY (Fire Department, city of New York) hat regularly. He isn't trying to impresonate a firefighter, he just likes that department.

I say wear em. Whether it's the fire or police department shirts, it's pretty obvious that you're not actively in those departments on duty. You're on the opposite coast.

BigDave · Mar 22, 2013

brad98801 said:
I spent a few years in NY when I was younger and I support the police fire depts. and such as much as the next guy so I have a bunch of nypd fdny ect shirts that I've collected over time aside from most likely looking funny or whatever is it against the law to wear a police dept shirt while OC or even CC?

I believe it has more to do with actions then it does clothing wear though if you were to wear one of their shirts and then dress like them, you know tactical pants, drop leg holster maybe viewed by citizens has some wannabe.

Take time to look up the law covering impersonating an officer and see if it meets the requirements.

Freedom1Man · Mar 22, 2013

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.60.040

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.60.045

RCW 9A.60.045
Criminal impersonation in the second degree.

(1) A person is guilty of criminal impersonation in the second degree if the person:

(a)(i) Claims to be a law enforcement officer or creates an impression that he or she is a law enforcement officer; and

(ii) Under circumstances not amounting to criminal impersonation in the first degree, does an act with intent to convey the impression that he or she is acting in an official capacity and a reasonable person would believe the person is a law enforcement officer; or

(b) Falsely assumes the identity of a veteran or active duty member of the armed forces of the United States with intent to defraud for the purpose of personal gain or to facilitate any unlawful activity.

gogodawgs · Mar 22, 2013

Note: the "and" immediately following what you have in red.

BigDave · Mar 22, 2013

gogodawgs said:
Note: the "and" immediately following what you have in red.

Ditto !

Difdi · Mar 22, 2013

Nightmare said:
My impulse has been to commission a line of navy-blue and gold jackets emblazoned POLITE, maybe with cute little escutcheon below POLITE on the front.

Great idea. Or perhaps CITIZEN.

arentol · Mar 22, 2013

Most security guard uniforms give WAY more of an impression the wearer is a police officer than any T-shirt with a badge logo on it does. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

EMNofSeattle · Mar 22, 2013

Am I impersonating an officer when wearing this badge?

MAC702 · Mar 22, 2013

brad98801 said:
...so I have a bunch of nypd fdny ect shirts that I've collected over time aside from most likely looking funny or whatever is it against the law to wear a police dept shirt while OC or even CC?

Wearing it with or without the firearm is irrelevant. The only thing relevant is whether or not it is considered a uniform that can only be worn by sworn officers.

amzbrady · Mar 23, 2013

I wonder how it can be legal to wear one of those concealed weapons badges? I have to also wonder why you would wear one? What is the purpose of advertising you have a concealed weapon?

Flopsweat · Mar 23, 2013

Nightmare said:
My impulse has been to commission a line of navy-blue and gold jackets emblazoned POLITE, maybe with cute little escutcheon below POLITE on the front.

I presume you're using the armorial definition rather than the medical one.

sudden valley gunner · Mar 23, 2013

A cop or a guy imitating a cop should be treated the same.

b0neZ · Mar 23, 2013

EMNofSeattle said:
Am I impersonating an officer when wearing this badge?

I'd have to say "yes", but only if you "attempt" to act in an "official capacity".

Using Tapatalk. Please forgive any grammatical errors.

Munkey Butt · Mar 23, 2013

EMNofSeattle said:
The applicable law also requires someone act in a way that would give someone the impression he actually is a sworn officer.

Like actually knowing the laws that apply to the 2A? Or possibly upholding the constitution?

Flopsweat · Mar 25, 2013

Nightmare said:
No, the Latin.

Well played Sir.

Bill Starks · Mar 25, 2013

amzbrady said:
I wonder how it can be legal to wear one of those concealed weapons badges? I have to also wonder why you would wear one? What is the purpose of advertising you have a concealed weapon?

Utah has a law against them......

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