11 Dec Impersonating a Police Officer Is a Felony in Arizona
Pretending to be a police officer could mean felony charges if you get caught. You may have heard of the man who was arrested for impersonating an officer and arriving armed at the Charlie Kirk memorial. This incident left the public with many questions about what it means to impersonate an officer, and what the consequences might be.
What Does It Mean to Impersonate a Police Officer?
There are two steps to impersonating a police officer:
- The impostor is claiming to be a member of law enforcement (either verbally or with false ID, uniform, etc.).
- The impostor is pretending to be a police officer in order to intimidate or persuade another person into complying with their demands.
Claiming to be a police officer could mean dressing like a uniformed officer, carrying a fake badge or ID, and yelling, “Stop, police!” Even if the agency the imposter claims to be a part of does not exist, they are still impersonating law enforcement.
If this makes you worried about dressing up as a cop for a costume party or as an actor, don’t worry. As long as you do not intend to use your costume to intimidate others or do anything unlawful, you have not actually impersonated an officer.
Pretending to Be a Police Officer Could Mean Prison Time
Impersonating an officer is a felony charge. On its own, it is a class 6 felony with sentences ranging from 3 months to 5 years, depending on previous convictions and other factors.
If the impostor also committed certain other felonies, the charge changes to a class 4 felony. Class 4 felonies have incarceration times of 1 year to 15 years, not including any additional charge stacking by the prosecution.
These simultaneous felonies are:
- Negligent homicide, manslaughter, or murder
- Any form of assault
- Sexual assault or abuse
- Providing liquor or drugs unlawfully
- Discharging a firearm, or drive-by shooting
- Theft, burglary, or robbery
- Arson
- Kidnapping
- Dangerous crimes against children
Did Your Impersonation Land You with Felony Charges? Call Todd Coolidge Law Firm
When you’re facing felony charges, it can feel like your life is hanging by a thread. A conviction will mean serving time in prison and shelling out thousands of dollars for fines and fees, not to mention losing some of your civil rights.
A certified defense lawyer will fight for your rights and help you beat those felony charges. Contact us today for a consultation on your case.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/5/25). Photo by Addy Spartacus on Unsplash.