imported post
Threats like that hold no water. If you know the laws and are not breaking any, you can not get in legal trouble that will not be thrown out in court. Carry a recorder and some OC info packets with you and know WASH, WRINSE, REPEAT backwards and forwards.
Start OCing in small steps. Attend an OC event. There's a list of them on this site somewhere. Perhaps send the department another information packet.
I personally would not rely on one person's opinion that you would be arrested. Talk to the people here - we haven't had any members arrested for OC.