More Security Guard Police Impersonators

[SW Indiana]

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime...l-wayne-escort

Updated: Wednesday, 13 Apr 2011, 4:57 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 13 Apr 2011, 4:25 PM EDT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - Two Indianapolis security officers are facing charges of impersonating police officers after police said they escorted Lil Wayne’s tour buses with flashing lights and sirens early Wednesday morning in Bloomington.

Bloomington police said Ronald Andre Harrod, 43, and Larry Lee Richardson, 23, both of Indianapolis, are charged with impersonating a public servant.

Bloomington Police Department Capt. Joe Qualters said the two were wearing police-type uniforms and gun belts as they drove a caravan of tour buses from Assembly Hall to a local Nightclub. Lil Wayne performed a concert Tuesday night at Assembly Hall to help kick off Little 500 week at Indiana University.

Police said Richardson was leading the caravan in an unmarked Crown Victoria with flashing red and blue lights and sirens blaring at about 1:40 a.m. Wednesday. Harrod was following the caravan in a Dodge Intrepid with red and blue lights flashing.

Both Richardson and Harrod told police they are security officers for an Indianapolis company and have permission and the credentials to drive with lights and sirens.

[ummone]

They probably have credentials. Security companies are providing escorts for funerals under these credentials. Not that I agree with it.....

[Dwntwn317]

They probably have credentials. Security companies are providing escorts for funerals under these credentials. Not that I agree with it.....

Well, it was a hip-hop/gangsta rap concert, so maybe they figured there would be at least one DOA before the night ended?

[CruiserClass]

I'm just curious, how many of you active duty folks have/are willing to write these wannabe's?

I've written quite a few for forward facing blue lights and done a suspicious activity report on a couple that were just too over the top but I didn't have anything for an impersonation charge. Like one guy who had clear strobes, a spotlight, handcuffs on the spot light and some sort of badge clipped to the visor. Nothing to charge him with, but just so when something pops up he's on record.

[j706]

What/who the heck is "Lil Wayne"? I must be behind on the times because I have never heard of him/it.

[saultsaultsudio]

Hahaha!!! Nice!

[Deputyhcsd]

Crdentials? I remember when MCSD allowed several special deputy security guards have these lights in thier own car. We towed them often here in Hendricks County because apperently they considered themselves able to pull cars over here also. The statute is clear on this matter. NO police chief or sheriff has any authority in allowing anyone to use red and blue lights in thier car. Statute states it must be a government or municipal owned vehicle. I have never read a statue that stated just having the light in thier car is illegal. It must be turned on. Correct me if I am wrong but I beleive the statute cleary states it must be iluminating?

[USMARINE]

I'm just curious, how many of you active duty folks have/are willing to write these wannabe's? The old school of thought from the Prosecutor (in our county) was that the mere possession of a red/blue light or siren wasn't enough, they must have been in "operation" to qualify as a violation. I remember writing one ghetto ride that had neon blue lights around the entire under carriage of his vehicle.........he had no idea I could write him for impersonating a volunteer firefighter. It was a humerous stop.


LD45

I'd write for it, these guys take themselves way too seriously

[CrashBandicoot]

The statute is clear on this matter. NO police chief or sheriff has any authority in allowing anyone to use red and blue lights in thier car. Statute states it must be a government or municipal owned vehicle. I have never read a statue that stated just having the light in thier car is illegal. It must be turned on. Correct me if I am wrong but I beleive the statute cleary states it must be iluminating?

IC 9-19-14-5.5(b) states:

A person who:
(1) purchases or otherwise acquires a vehicle with equipment described by sections 2 or 5 of this chapter; and
(2) is not authorized to display a red and white or red and blue lamp upon the vehicle;
shall immediately remove the red and white or red and blue lamp from the vehicle.

IC 9-19-14-6(b) makes any violation of Chapter 14 a C infraction. Also, INDOT (of all agencies) has the authority to designate and authorize non-police/fire/EMS vehicles as emergency vehicles.

[ummone]

They have the means, that's not to say it's being done correctly! What these 2 crackheads don't realize is that the escort permit is only good for Marion County and it must be for a funeral or sports team.



.................................................. .................................................. .................................................
CITY-COUNTY GENERAL ORDINANCE NO. , 2009
A PROPOSAL FOR A GENERAL ORDINANCE amending the Revised Code of the Consolidated City
and County by adopting a new chapter 891 requiring permits for funeral and other escorted vehicular
processions.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND OF MARION COUNTY, INDIANA:
SECTION 1. The Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County be, and is hereby, amended by
adopting a new chapter 891, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 891- FUNERAL AND OTHER ESCORTED VEHICULAR PROCESSIONS
Sec. 891-1. Defined terms. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as stated in
this section:
A funeral escort service means the conducting of a funeral procession pursuant to IC. 9-21-13-03.
A police escort means as any official city or county law enforcement agency utilizing emergency
equipment to escort personal, business, commercial, or private vehicles from one point to another on
public streets.
A private funeral escort service means any organization that is contracted or is employed by churches
or funeral, burial or interment companies to escort funeral processions in compliance with IC. 9-21-13-4.
A professional sports team means any organization that compensates employees/players/athletes in
the following sports: football, basketball, soccer, and hockey.
Sec. 891-2. Funeral Escort Permits.
(a) It shall be unlawful to engage in the funeral escort business unless pursuant to a valid an annual
permit from the department of public safety to conduct funeral procession escort services within Marion
County. This chapter shall not apply to processions or the services that originate outside of Marion
County proceeding within the county to a burial site or place of service.
(b) The permit fee for Funeral Escorts shall be $250.00 annually. The permitted use for funeral escort
businesses shall be valid for one-year upon issuance. The revenue from this fee shall be dedicated to
the public safety training fund.
Proposal No. 359, 2009
Page 2
(c) All permitted funeral escort services, businesses and/or corporations will clearly mark any of their
vehicles used for escort processions by placing the words” Funeral Escort Service” in not less than twoinch
lettering on both sides of the vehicle.
(d) Funeral escort services can utilize emergency equipment pursuant to Indiana Code while
conducting processions. No business or corporation conducting such a service shall have an insignia in
the same shape or design representing their business which is similar to the Marion County Sheriff and/or
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department badge, seal or insignia.
(e) This section does not apply to when certified law enforcement agencies lead funeral processions
at the discretion of their director, chief and/or sheriff.
Sec. 891-3. Police escorts for professional sports teams.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any Indiana Law Enforcement Board certified agency to provide police
escorts on city/county funded streets for professional sports team without the issuance of a permit by the
department of public safety. This chapter does not apply to streets within the excluded cities of Marion
County.
(b) City and county agencies within the consolidated county shall not conduct police escorts for
professional sports teams on city/county funded streets unless a permit is issued by the department of
public safety.
(c) The fee for the professional sports escort permit shall be $2,000 (two-thousand dollars) for each
issuance. The issuance of the professional sports team permit shall be valid for twenty-four hours. The
revenue from this fee shall be dedicated to the public safety training fund.
(d) Any professional sports team securing a police escort permit shall enter into an agreement to
hold harmless the city of Indianapolis, County of Marion, their employees, agents, and elected officials.
No professional sports team can pay to have issued permits with any portions of tax revenue. The Capital
Improvements Board (CIB) is forbidden from paying for any police escort permit or reimbursement of said
permit.
(e) This chapter does not apply to special events for non-profits, IHSAA, parades, and police escorts
approved by the Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department or the Sheriff of Marion County
or their designees when deemed necessary for event protection and management. This section does not
permit either the chief or sheriff to circumvent the intended purpose of this chapter.
Sec. 891-4 Exceptions. This chapter shall not apply to federal, state, county, or local agencies charged
with protecting dignitaries, political appointees, or elected officials.
SECTION 2. This resolution shall be in full force and effect upon adoption and compliance with IC 36-3-4-
14.
The foregoing was passed by the City-County Council this _____ day of __________, 2009, at _____
p.m.

[ummone]

I'm just curious, how many of you active duty folks have/are willing to write these wannabe's?

Absolutely!

[straycat62]

In Marion County, There seems to be a heck of a lot my "Funeral Escorts" with red and blue lights in their cars that funeral homes. I just dont really like the idea of Joe Shmoe running around with R&B lights. It is just confusing for the average citizen to distinguise. Like the security guard cars that look as close to the real thing as possible. I have had to do a double take before

[PtlCop]

Sometimes the only way I can tell is by the plate, they'll usually have a DARE or ISP memorial plate. A few weeks ago we were at Dave & Busters up in Castleton, and the Special working security had a unmarked Taurus with red & blue, and it had an MDT in it. What's up with that?

LD45

I've seen multiple special deputies from Marion County driving the Ford Taurus or Dodge Stratus. Those were, the years they were available, fairly common fleet vehicles (just not typically with police, mostly rental car companies).