Can a citizen wear a shirt that says "POLICE"

[CitiusFortius]

I have a quick question I wanted to throw out there.

I happened into a free neon yellow shirt that says POLICE in bold capital letters across the top back of the shirt. It was left over from an event that I recently worked so I said yes when offered.

I like to jog in the woods and the bright color of the shirt is good for safety reasons. Can I wear it without being charged as "impersonating a police officer?"

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mrjarrell]

Don't see why not. As long as you're not representing yourself as a cop to anyone. Not sure that a cop won't hassle you, tho.

 

[walterwhiting]

Isn't that the name of a rock band?

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

yep. You can.

And you can wear one that says ARMY on it. Or MARINES. Or Air Force.

Now if you go around wearing that shirt and ACTING like a LEO - then things will get hinky for you in a hurry.

-J-

 

[Rookie]

Isn't that the name of a rock band?

Weren't they guilty of acting like a rock band?

 

[CitiusFortius]

Weren't they guilty of acting like a rock band?

Now that's funny right there.

Thanks everybody. That's kind of what I was thinking, just wanted a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinion...

 

[K_W]

It's the same as police costumes at costume stores. As long as you do not make an assertion that you ARE a police officer, when you are not, then I don't believe you are violating any law.

1000's of people wear NYPD stuff across the country. I never hear of them getting arrested.

 

[iChokePeople]

yep. You can.

Now if you go around wearing that shirt and ACTING like a LEO - then things will get hinky for you in a hurry.

-J-

I don't eat donuts much, anyway.

 

[Double T]

I don't eat donuts much, anyway.

Nor do I condone cannibalism

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

I don't eat donuts much, anyway.

This is one of the many reasons that I think I'd be a good cop.

Unfortunately.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

A person who falsely represents that the person is a public servant, with intent to mislead and induce another person to submit to false official authority or otherwise to act to the other person's detriment in reliance on the false representation, commits impersonation of a public servant, a Class A misdemeanor. However, a person who falsely represents that the person is:
(1) a law enforcement officer; or
(2) an agent or employee of the department of state revenue, and collects any property from another person;
commits a Class D felony.

Indiana Code 35-44-2-3.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

Don't see why not. As long as you're not representing yourself as a cop to anyone. Not sure that a cop won't hassle you, tho.

I won't hassle him if he responds correctly to the secret hand signal.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

Can I wear it without being charged as "impersonating a police officer?"

My LT and Sgts accuse me of impersonating a police officer every time I show up for work.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I won't hassle him if he responds correctly to the secret hand signal.

The hand holding an invisible cup of coffee?

My LT and Sgts accuse me of impersonating a police officer every time I show up for work.

Awesome! Finally a case with a viable defense! I'll do it pro bono.

 

[iChokePeople]

Come now... it's not that difficult to determine which are the REAL LEOs and which are the fakes. You just give them the litmus test:

 

[Mr. Habib]

I think that the more important question is if a police officer can wear a shirt that says CITIZEN.

 

[eldirector]

I think that the more important question is if a police officer can wear a shirt that says CITIZEN.

Of course. I would HOPE our LEOs are all citizens.

 

[LEaSH]

Come now... it's not that difficult to determine which are the REAL LEOs and which are the fakes. You just give them the litmus test:

Thems bagels, man. They ain't going to get anything with a bagel unless it has a really irresistible spread on it.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

The hand holding an invisible cup of coffee?



Awesome! Finally a case with a viable defense! I'll do it pro bono.

I see what you did there. Both times.

 

[AD Marc]

While it may be legal, I'm not sure why anyone would want to draw that sort of attention to themselves.

Buy a reflective safety vest for jogging. They only cost about $10