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Man posed as an Atlanta officers, video shows
If you saw Officer Willie Jackson on the street, you would not know the uniform he wore was just a costume. Authorities say Jackson was an imposter, arrested by APD last weekend. Police officials say there is nothing funny about dressing up like a cop. It is a serious violation.
ATLANTA - A man was recently arrested for impersonating at Atlanta Police Department office in downtown Atlanta.
According to APD, an on-duty officer was patrolling parking lots on Aug. 13 when he spotted a person who appeared to be an off-duty APD officer working security in a parking lot.
The on-duty officer stopped to talk to the man and began to feel something was off. The on-duty officer noticed that the man's uniform was slightly off, his body camera equipment was different and he appeared to be nervous.
Initially, the on-duty officer thought it could be simply an issue of policy violations but decided to notify his supervisors.
Two APD supervisors responded to the parking lot and met the "off-duty officer." Initially, they thought the man may have been working an unauthorized off-duty job. But, the man's story was not adding up and neither veteran supervisor had seen him before. One of the supervisors checked certification records and could not find the man's name. At that point, they arrested him.
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APD officers arrest police impersonator
During the early morning hours of Sunday, August 13, 2023, an on-duty Atlanta Police Officer was patrolling parking lots in downtown Atlanta when he encountered what appeared to be an off-duty, uniformed APD officer, working security in a parking lot. Atlanta Police released this video showing that confrontation.
The man advised he had applied to work for the APD a few years ago, but had failed his physical exam. The equipment he was carrying was similar to APD equipment, but was not the same. The firearm was a different model and caliber. It was also empty. The body camera was not currently or previously issued to APD officers. The male was charged with impersonating a police officer and taken to the Fulton County Jail.
APD is still investigating the case and trying to determine if he has impersonated an officer before. Information can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org . Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspect.