Impostor without the lights and sirens

This week we bring a very different impostor of sorts. Usually we cover impostors and whackers that use lights, uniforms, and police style vehicles to gain the edge by abusing the trust of the population. In this case however, a security guard was accused of easily buying FBI credentials on the internet and accused of using these to earn the trust of others in the pursuance of their child pornographic endeavors. This accused fake FBI agent even went as far as to exchange wedding vows in a mock ceremony in his basement with a ten year old child.

This is a great example of how impostors are not only a danger to adults, but to children and their guardians as well. Someone very close to this story submitted the following links for me to share and spread the word that impostors can be anywhere, at anytime, confusing anyone. As you can see from the links, people will do anything to get what they want and the trust we have in the law enforcement community takes the hit for someone posing as a member of that trusted community. Little by little that trust is eroding away whether it be a young kid with an “official” looking CVPI playing off of the intimidation factor or some lowly security guard with fake FBI credentials trying to gain someone’s trust. Be sure to report anyone posing as someone they aren’t to your local authorities as soon as possible to prevent someone else from being hurt.  

Jonesboro Man Charged with Impersonating FBI Agent, Child Porn

WSB Radio

Police: Fake FBI Agent Used Props

FBI: Jonesboro man posed as special agent

FBI impersonations rare, but sometimes dangerous

FBI: Man married 10-year-old in basement ceremony

Fake FBI Agent Faces Child Porn Charges

Man Faces Child Porn Charges

Ways to find out if a younger volunteer has taken things too far.

1. Has a complete FD "personalized" wardrobe before getting off of probation.

2. Drives in a dangerous manner to any call because it might be "the one."

3. Loses focus and common sense when something exciting happens or they think something exciting happens.

4. Gets a fire fighter tattoo within 1 year of joining the department.

5. Tries to make their POV look official to increase the intimidation factor while responding.

6. Owns a full fire fighter tool kit but doesn't know how to use half of it.

7. Rarely mentions their true occupation to anyone and boasts that their occupation is "fire fighter."

8. Wears a random department t-shirt every day of the week or has a custom jacket made with their "achievements" listed somewhere such as FF1, FF2, EMT-A,B,I,P (not department issued or endorsed and usually from Galls).

9. Touts the terms like "I fight what you fear" and "Find them hot, leave them wet" on anything/where ever they can apply it to.

10. Carries their fire pager/radio everywhere they go including vacations and other out of the district trips not out of habit but as a pseudo-badge.

11. Spends more time at the station than anywhere else hoping to be on the first truck out to the next big fire.

12. Has more photos posing in front of the fire trucks inside the station than any other photos.

13. Lies about their fire fighting experience/seniority to pick up women or impress friends.

14. Makes a scene whenever 09/11 is mentioned and gloats about the "connection" they have with it since they are a volunteer now.

15. Compares the coolness of their fire responses to scenes out of movies such as "Backdraft" and "Ladder 49."

Now before I start getting hate mail for picking on volunteers, this list doesn’t cover all volunteers, just a small minority. If you are offended because I am picking on you or someone you consider a “brother” simply because they are in the field, I can’t help you.

Most times experience and maturity can help a rookie or probbie grow out of the phase and they develop into a dependable, experienced fire fighter. Other times they grow into an annoying wannabe more focused on the image than the fire fighting and are shooed off the department when they have done something to most people that is unforgettable.

Rich Times at Whacker High.

This person shows up on another forum and gloats about his $6,000+ he has dumped into his 05 Ford Ranger. The vehicle appeared to have a light bar, strobes in the headlights/tail lights, siren, radios, and other 4X4 goodies. When asked, the person gave several reasons to justify the lights, main ones being he was a police volunteer and a helicopter pilot.

A little background first before we continue. This person reportedly came from rich parents and is a pilot so there is no argument about his claim about being a pilot. One of the claims he made was he used the lights to drive across airport runways at night. The fact he would use clear lights for this is obviously against FAA Rules and would render other pilots temporarily blinded by a high power clear strobe bar going whenever this person was on the tarmac or runway.

Although he claims he does not use red or blue lights or have them installed, you can see from the photos we have gathered, this is contrary from the truth. He has also stated he doesn’t have a siren installed, another lie proven by photographs. The “police volunteer” job this person touts as a reason to use their lights is like a C.O.P program where you ride around in department issued vehicles being an extra set of eyes for the real police. Very few of these agencies encourage someone to outfit their POV such as this person did and use it with their program.

When asked, the person told me that they also dabbled in the hobby of wiring vehicles up with lighting. At the first sign of disapprovement from me, this person went off on an attention getting tangent stating he was going to destroy his truck for approval from me. He also name dropped his cousin’s name who is a police officer as a defence for the lights. Nothing you would expect out of a sound minded police volunteer. So we have the excuse of being a police volunteer, pilot, and emergency lighting installation hobbyist, you be the judge.

Here are his pictures, enjoy!

Time to open the hate mail bag for 2008

This following letter I recieved from another person offended by my view on 09/11 being a rallying call for younger fire fighters trying to be closer to the real thing. Obviously, like the rest of the offended, this person didn't read my whole article.

Dear Sir,

I would like to start by saying I think it is great that you post information on actual police impersonators. I can not imagine what goes through some ones head to decide to play cop. That aside it is my oppinoin that you have gone way to far with this whacker thing. You have crossed over into making fun of volunteer firefighters which you said you were at one time. I dont know who you think you are. Volunteer fire department greatly out number paid departments in America. The firefighters on these volunteer departments are no less a firefighter then a paid person. For that matter its my oppinion that volunteers are of a incredible character to volunteer their time and yes risk THEIR lives for no compinsation. The things you said about 9/11 show alot about your character or should I say the lack of. You may not be a whacker but you are no better. Does it make you feel better to insult those out there who are passionate about saving life. From what I have gathered from your site you were a voly for six years, security guard also. What I want to know is what you do for work and what got you started on this whole whacker crusade.

Just for you and all your readers to know (yes I want you to post this on your site and give us volies some answers Sally) I became a Police Explorer at 15 and was one till the age of 19. I was a RI State Park Ranger for 2 seasons during my Jr. and Sr. years of highshool. Joined my towns volunteer fire department at 18 and joined the military a year and a half later. I served over seas as a Corpsman with a grunt Marine unit and have since gone to the reserves. I am now a volunteer firefighter in a differant state and Im persuing a carrier in Emergency Services. Oh and yes I have lights in my POV and have since i became a Park Ranger 6 years ago.

So go ahead and tell me how Im just a whacker wannabe. Cause if you do I will know for sure your a useless sack of oh yes Sally you know what Im talking about. Good day Sir and enjoy your freedom. People like me sacrificed so you could say whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

As you can see, he is someone who is offended and also sent along his resume because he was trying to prove his point, “chest pounding” if you will. As always, my response.

I appreciate your email in regards to our web site. To start off, I don’t think anything I say will make you happy. It sounds as if your mind was made up before you even came to my site and you looked for something to be offended on. With that being said, you found it in your mind that I make it a goal to make fun of volunteer fire fighters. Well Sally, you are wrong. I’m not going to waste my time on how important volunteer fire departments are because put simply, you will skim over it looking for something to take offense to or twist it enough to take offense. I haven’t made fun of anyone who wants to save lives or risk their lives to run into burning buildings for the mental rush. That is a draw for a lot of volunteers and more power to them. About the 9/11 opinion, boohoo for you. Your rant did nothing to change my view point and if you don’t like my view point, then forget it and move on. Maybe you have blinders on or have the same mentality of the volunteer probbies/newbies who cry tears every time 09/11 is mentioned or someone brings it up. These kids didn’t lose any brothers or sisters that day (unless they had relatives there), they were still in school when it happened and probably didn’t even know fire fighting at the time. As for fire fighters/EMS/police ACTIVE on that day, they deal with it differently and you hear less about “OMG my brothers died that day” from them and they probably remember back in their mind when they hear that date but no one else ever notices it. The funny thing is the younger fire fighters make more of a commotion on the issue than the people who were part of a department on that date. You could almost call it the “poser mentality,” thinking they get the same type of respect and courage since they are simply fire fighters now. Simply put, there have been a lot of tragedies both domestic and abroad dealing with the public safety profession (let alone civilian tragedies) since then and you will rarely, if ever, hear about it from the same types who turn ever mention of 09/11 into a temporary memorial. Visit most FDNY firehouses involved in the tragedy, most of them refuse visitors anymore because they get tired of people reminding them of what happened on that day. Stickers and murals on vehicles will not bring those people back and only further the reminding of those feelings that people have from that day that were mature enough to know what loss is about. “Saving Lives” and reminding others constantly of a tragedy that happened almost a generation ago are two very different things.

As for “picking” on all volunteer fire fighters, I still don’t see where that can be directly pulled from my web site. I do mention the volunteers who take the fire fighting thing from a hobby to an obsession. There is a difference between volunteer and full time fire fighters. Calling them the same is like calling high school football player and a NFL football player. One plays for the spirit of it and the other plays for the pay. They do the same thing, but their reason for involvement is still different. With that being said, they both perform a very much needed and appreciated service. There are those who are the types who join 3+ departments, have no life outside of friends on the department, hanging out at the fire house constantly, and their real job. Yea, those types thinking that by drowning themselves in the hobby that much, they are more like the real thing. A lot of people will also view these types as wannabes also and these types left in this mental state too long can become a liability and a hazard. Two decades ago these types would be shooed off of most departments. However, with the current decay of society and everyone wanting reward for their accomplishments, volunteers are drying up. While on the topic of “rewards for accomplishments,” that’s your entire last paragraph on your letter is about. Being in the Marines and a Park Ranger has nothing to do with the rest of the letter and it sounds like you either want attention for your accomplishments or you’re trying to place yourself above me for the same. Another angle on it is you’re trolling for a hate letter in response so you can prove to whoever how bad of a person I am and how good you are with your background. I’ll leave up to a fellow forum staff member to explain the thoughts on your military background. Sadly, like the web site itself, you will only get what you want out of this letter and ignore the rest. For that I can’t help you.

A member of my staff read the letter and also put in his two cents.

Oh noes....he called you a Sally!

Sorry, but if his poor writing skills are a measure of intelligence, that is probably the reason he is still "persuing a carrier" [sic] in emergency services.

I don't take lightly to these "veteran" whackers.  Quit trumping up your time in the military, like you alone are the reason freedom exists.  Sorry Rambo, it doesn't work that way.  Some of us here have been there, done that, and may still be at the service of the commander-in-chief.  I'd bet this guy is the one who (1) is probably a military sticker whacker (look at me I'm special) and (2) always insists on the "military discount" at fast food restaurants.  While I can applaud anyone tough enough to survive time in the service, that isn't any defense to argument that makes your viewpoints about whackers any more credible. 

Next, since most of us volunteer in some capacity within our communities, his tirade that PP hates volunteer FF is bunk.  If anything, some of us have higher respect for volunteers than the career guys who view the service just as an easy job with good benefits.  It takes the logical reasoning of let's see--a teenager, to realize that we can make fun of ourselves, and point out those who in our midst are overboard, without committing blasphemy.

This guy is is missing the point of the site completely.  We cover topics more broad than just police impersonators.  Yes, you can be a legitimate member of an LE, EMS or FD unit and still be a whacker.  I would wager a bet that the lure of woo-woo lights has even motivated many-a-whacker to join up.  So, when we make fun of a guy that starts up a fake fire department or lobbies legislature for an animal ambulance for their own edification, we aren't knocking on the whole tree, just picking the bad apples.

To the writer: If you can understand, you're with us.  If you don't, you need to grow up.  Life isn't black and white.  Combat should have taught you that.

To wrap it up, we give you his response. As you can see, it's basically the first letter but reworded with a few responses thrown in.

Hey guys thanks for responding. I just wanted to clear up a few things though. First of all I was mostly offended at your attitude towards 9/11. I think that people in America are to quick to forget. Remember what happened on 9/11 and the intense patriotism that fallowed. Don't forget man, that's probably the best way to put it. Also in response to your Buddy I do not have any military stickers on my jeep. My point in giving you my back round was to try and impress on you that I'm not just some wannabe that has his panties in a twist. I don't really like to talk about the military much. Most civilians don't get it when I talk about the stuff I did. It brings up bad memories too sometimes. By the way I'm still serving in the active reserves. So your Buddy needs to stop assuming things about people he doesn't know. Go goggle what a Navy Corpsman is before you start ranting about me. Oh and you have to go to school to be a Paramedic, so yes I'm persuing my career in emergency services. Ive been there done the saving life thing and got paid for it so cool your jets. Rambo ain't got [Censored] on Doc. LOL!

I think I miss understood your point. I thought you were making fun of vollies because of the way you feel about 9/11 and the sticker whackers that go crazy with the 9/11 stuff. I can understand that point. As far as paid compared to volunteer firefighters I have run into some really bad vollies but I almost got killed in my first fire with a over zealous paid firefighter. So my opinion stands that there about equal.

Well I still like your site. I think that some of the guys you got on the site are total whack jobs. I agree that the animal ambulance thing is bull. I'm not a retard hater. You just really hit a nerve with the 9/11 thing. Its OK though this is America I respect your opinion. I apologize if I was to forward..

The Story of Donna Clark

We encourage you to check out these blog entries regarding Donna Clark/Fred Cross.

http://firegeezer.com/category/donna/

Pet Ambulance: saving one cockatiel at a time, risking your life in the process.

This is a phrase that might be very possible in the near future for Michigan. A push by a non-profit agency, KARE (Knapptime Adoption Rescue and Education for Avian animals) and Michigan State Rep. Lisa Wojno would change the laws allowing “pet ambulances” to run red lights AND sirens for any emergency they see the need for. Under the current Michigan laws, any charitable organization that helps out during an emergency can have red lights on their vehicle. KARE has taken advantage of this and outfitted their personal vehicles with red lights. As stated by the detnews.com article “The couple has operated the flashers during animal emergencies. But that's led to trouble in the past, they said. About a year and a half ago they were ticketed in Novi transporting a cockatiel.” For reference, they were running emergency lights for a bird that weighs no more than two pounds, costs an average of $20 at any pet store, and are not endangered, protected, or even threatened species.

Now you might be asking at this point “What is the big deal?” The answer is simple, this is lighting and siren misuse. Thousands of professionals use lights and sirens every day to preserve human life and well being. Over time these professionals have had to add more and more to their emergency warning equipment to do their job due to abuse, misuse, and general lack of education and respect. Laws and morals that surround them are only followed because of one thing and that is respect. Without respect all of the flashing lights and the sirens in the world wouldn’t be worth their weight in scrap. When the public starts to question whether that emergency vehicle behind them is an ambulance taking a choking child to the hospital or a private vehicle transporting a cockatiel to the vet, they lose respect for lights and siren. Once the distrust spreads, the jobs for the real professionals will be even harder and the bird lovers will be risking lives of humans to save small animals.

On the subject of risk, there is a widely overlooked issue regarding using lights and sirens. When you break normal traffic laws while running “code,” you are putting the lives of others at risk doing so. Throughout time this has been viewed as a necessary risk to preserve the lives of patients and property. This is an issue that has been overlooked by the “pet ambulance” operators and supporters. I would never trade a human life for that of an animal.

The passing of this law could spread to other states allowing non-emergency use of emergency warning equipment. There are a many states that do not even permit volunteer fire fighters, EMS, and rescue personnel to use lights on their POV’s. For responders in those states this is a slap in their face that another state holds rescuing animals at a higher priority than their own state holds for human life. Just something to think about.

The use of emergency lighting by the ASPCA’s HLE Division in NYC is often used when attempting to justify emergency light use by “animal ambulances.” Some have asked the question “If they can run lights and siren, why can’t we?” The key fact is those officials are sworn law enforcement officers with extensive training in animal care as well as emergency vehicle operations and defensive driving. Even an agency the size of the ASPCA’s HLE Division in NYC, which receives 300-400 calls for help per month, rarely uses it’s emergency lighting privileges when transporting animals. Instead it reserves them for only the most dire of emergencies & even then the HLE officers often transport the animals in a non-emergency mode. A more common example of emergency lighting use would be the incident where two HLE officers saw a dog fight in progress and used their emergency lights to allow them to rapidly respond. This resulted in the rescue of the animals & the arrest of the individuals involved before serious injuries occurred A sworn law enforcement officer with added training in animal care and abuse investigation is a far cry from a volunteer with no training and emotion as a fuel to use their lights and sirens.

I ask you to think about the issue at hand and write a letter, email, or even call and Michigan State Rep. Lisa Wojno with your opinion. Although this is happening in Michigan, this has to do with all users of emergency equipment and what the public perceives about this equipment.