A bill raising the penalty for impersonating a police officer was signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, changing the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Sen. Alan Sanborn, R-Richmond, pushed the bill through the state Legislature with an unanimous decision in both houses about two weeks ago, making the new penalty a fine of up to $5,000 and up to four years in prison.
The previous penalty for impersonating a police officer was a misdemeanor with time served running concurrently with time for any other offense.
The last East Lansing police officer impersonation occurred in August 2001 when a man suspected of at least two other incidents searched a woman's car, making it the fourth incident since 1999.
"Someone impersonating an officer could diminish our ability to do our job simply because people aren't sure who they are talking too," East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said. "So it (the bill) hopefully will be a good deterrent."
Tiffany Kimble, Sanborn's spokeswoman, said the problem is increasing nationwide. She said most often impersonators are robbing people, misleading store owners and stealing cars.
Macomb County Sheriff Mark A. Hackel testified before the state Senate Judiciary Committee in February about a case on Interstate 94 involving a criminal using a fake siren on top of their car to pull over a teenage boy and take his wallet. The boy was too afraid to report the crime to police officers out of fear of getting in more trouble because he thought the man was an actual police officer, Kimble said.
"These people are playing on the assumption of police being there to protect, the fact that people won't question them," Kimble said. "They're using this to violate them. The senator was appalled to find out it was only a misdemeanor. It is a pretty horrible offense."
MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said she couldn't remember any incidents of MSU police officers being impersonated, but says the bill is good for all law enforcement.
"I think its important for the public to know who they are dealing with - when the public comes in to contact with us they expect it to be a police officer," McGlothian-Taylor said. "I commend him (Sanborn) for taking a stronger stance."
Officers from Armada, Romeo, Richmond, Shelby Township, Chesterfield Township, Memphis, Mich., Mount Clemens and Macomb County Sheriff's Department were present at the bill signing.
Sanborn was nationally recognized by John Walsh, host of "America's Most Wanted" and "The John Walsh Show" on April 9. Kimble said the show featured police impersonation stories that lead to the kidnapping and death of those tricked by impersonators.
