Police Sweatshirt

[iheartnjdevils3]

Is it illegal to wear a hooded sweatshirt with the word POLICE on the back with local city's patch on the side? I recently got stopped in the mall by a secuirty guard demanding I show identification that I was a police officer. He told me I was impersanting a police officer.

[rdp]

And the reason you wanted to look like a cop is???

[thelemite]

Well, in NYC, this is covered by the administrative code:
§ 14-107 Unlawful use of police uniform or emblem. It shall be
unlawful for any person not a member of the police force to represent
himself or herself falsely as being such a member with a fraudulent
design upon persons or property, or to have, use, wear or display
without specific authority from the commissioner any uniform, shield,
buttons, wreaths, numbers or other insignia or emblem in any way
resembling that worn by members of the police force. A violation of this
section shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more
than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than sixty
days, or both.

as well as in the NYS Penal law, but the penal law (190.25 Criminal impersonation in the second degree) requires that the person "... acts with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, to solicit funds or to otherwise cause another to act in reliance upon that pretense."

[iheartnjdevils3]

My boyfriend just became a police officer and I told him I wanted a tshirt or something. He had an extra patch so he had that put on a hoodie that had POLICE on the back. It also has his nickname embroidered on the front (Lil Zo). I don't see how this is any different then someone wearing an NYPD shirt. I was just taking my little cousin and her friend to the mall.. far from trying to impersanate a police officer.

[thelemite]

Before someone else catches my mistake - it would actually be 190.25, criminal impersonation in the first degree, since we are specifically referring to a police insignia. The same intent requirement applies to both.

[iheartnjdevils3]

Why is it legal to sell NYPD merchandise with their police insignia on them then?

[retdetsgt]

Why is it legal to sell NYPD merchandise with their police insignia on them then?

Kinda self explanatory. They don't want people looking like the police. Perhaps you were really doing it in good faith, but there are folks out there who would wear it for evil purposes.....

We sell sweatshirts and stuff that have Portland Police on them, but there is no official insignia anywhere on it. To look at any of it, a normal person would not necessarily believe the person is a police officer.

[Group9]

I bought a NYPD hat, as a tribute after 9-11, on a visit there and I often wear it on raids, but never in New York or especially New York City. And, never off-duty.

[thelemite]

Why is it legal to sell NYPD merchandise with their police insignia on them then?

Actually it isn't legal in all cases. Anything with the NYPD insignia must be authorized, (as mentioned in the bolded text of my previous post):

The City has also licensed the Police Department Shield and the letters “NYPD” to the New York City
Police Foundation. In turn, the Foundation authorizes selected merchants to sell goods bearing the
shield and the letters “NYPD.” Royalties from these arrangements are used by the Foundation to fund
programs, conduct studies and provide equipment to improve the effectiveness of police activities and to
strengthen the partnership between the police and the public. The Police Museum also sells goods with
the “NYPD” insignia, and revenue from its sales helps support NYPD law enforcement efforts.

Except is from a 2004 press release, full text of which is available at:
http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache...chandise&hl=en

Some licensed stuff can be found at http://www.shop4nypd.com/?AID=10297097&PID=1223851

None of these items really resemble anything actually worn by officers on duty. As a general rule, I do not know ANY police officers that would wear anything with an NYPD logo, and some of us make an extra effort to not look like cops when we are off duty.

[mcsap]

Is it illegal to wear a hooded sweatshirt with the word POLICE on the back with local city's patch on the side? I recently got stopped in the mall by a secuirty guard demanding I show identification that I was a police officer. He told me I was impersanting a police officer.

DO you ...

1. Want people coming up to you in public demanding immediate police services from a domestic or some sort of criminal activity ?

2. Want some pissed off bad guy seeing an opportunity to get a little revenge on the "officer" in front of him ?

Our police association sells shirts that say I support ______PD but we do not sell dept patches and in my humble opinion , you are asking for trouble and hassles to continue to wear the sweatshirt.

[scott715us]

DO you ...

1. Want people coming up to you in public demanding immediate police services from a domestic or some sort of criminal activity ?

2. Want some pissed off bad guy seeing an opportunity to get a little revenge on the "officer" in front of him ?

Our police association sells shirts that say I support ______PD but we do not sell dept patches and in my humble opinion , you are asking for trouble and hassles to continue to wear the sweatshirt.

Roger..

[Johninaustin]

So. You think wearing a target on your back is a GOOD idea?:confused:

[rdp]

If your boyfriend was that DUMB to allow you to put a patch on a shirt that says police, he has no clue and neither do you of the dangers of this job.

[ChesCopPodz]

No offense, but your boyfriend needs to wise up in a hurry. As stated already, wearing something police related, especially something that could be construed as official, is a GREAT way to get unwanted attention drawn to yourself, as you already found out. I wear nothing that shows I'm a cop with the one exception of my 9/11 memorial shirt. If bad guys think you're a cop, they will harass you, it's not an uncommon thing. It's even worse to give your significant other something that makes them look like a cop, not safe at all.

Also, check your local laws, here it is against code for a civilian to wear one of our patches, so you very may well be violating the law where you are.

[mcsap]

Unless going to a LEO function , I wear NOTHING at all off duty that indicates my profession.