i dunno if it's still there, but one of the communities i used to follow on was called "whackers", which is/was a slang term for that type of guy who kits himself and his vehicle out to looking like a police vehicle, right up to and often over the line of what is legal. people would take pictures of them out in the world. some even had companies with names like this and they would do shit like "funeral escorts" and "private security".
they invariably have run ins with the law and with court appearances and other things on public record. the community would post videos and pictures and news stories about their altercations.
the top tier poster child of this phenomenon was a guy named Jeremy Dewitte in the Orlando, FL area who had a company called "Metro State Services". the news stories and youtube videos (of police body cams) are all over the place. i used to follow it, but i think he finally got locked up for it. he has never been a cop and was ineligible to be a cop since very early on due to being a registered sex offender. i don't know where he gets all the money for the fines, his gear, vehicles, and their customization, but his collection of modified fleet vehicles is literally insane.
anyway, as much as i hate cops... these wannabees, not just private security, but private security trying to look like sworn officers, are often the guys who were the massive rejects that even our bullshit and corrupt systems identified as too chaotically evil.
link to like the first hit for his name... where you can find him in the comments of the article arguing about how he's actually not a criminal: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/03/24/florida-man-notorious-for-impersonating-cops-arrested-again/
deleted by creator
i dunno if it's still there, but one of the communities i used to follow on
was called "whackers", which is/was a slang term for that type of guy who kits himself and his vehicle out to looking like a police vehicle, right up to and often over the line of what is legal. people would take pictures of them out in the world. some even had companies with names like this and they would do shit like "funeral escorts" and "private security".
they invariably have run ins with the law and with court appearances and other things on public record. the community would post videos and pictures and news stories about their altercations.
the top tier poster child of this phenomenon was a guy named Jeremy Dewitte in the Orlando, FL area who had a company called "Metro State Services". the news stories and youtube videos (of police body cams) are all over the place. i used to follow it, but i think he finally got locked up for it. he has never been a cop and was ineligible to be a cop since very early on due to being a registered sex offender. i don't know where he gets all the money for the fines, his gear, vehicles, and their customization, but his collection of modified fleet vehicles is literally insane.
anyway, as much as i hate cops... these wannabees, not just private security, but private security trying to look like sworn officers, are often the guys who were the massive rejects that even our bullshit and corrupt systems identified as too chaotically evil.
link to like the first hit for his name... where you can find him in the comments of the article arguing about how he's actually not a criminal: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/03/24/florida-man-notorious-for-impersonating-cops-arrested-again/
You have to be on a whole another level of danger to the public (or to the PR of the police more likely) to not get to be a cop in US
of course it's orlando
of course it is