Gov. Blagojevich commends House for unanimously passing tougher penalties for police impersonation, encourages Senate to follow suit         

Legislation would increase jail time for police impersonation, create new offense for impersonation while carrying a deadly weapon, and broaden definition of peace officer to include local, state and federal officials

[FEB. 25, 2006]  CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich praised the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday for passing legislation to increase penalties for impersonation of a police officer or firefighter. House Bill 5336, sponsored by Rep. Harry Osterman, D-Chicago, would toughen penalties for anyone who impersonates a police officer or firefighter while committing a more serious crime and would broaden the definition of peace officer to include local, state or federal officials. The governor proposed the legislation in January in response to a Chicago Sun-Times series that highlighted more than 1,000 police impersonation cases in the Chicago area over the last three years. After passing Wednesday afternoon in the House by a margin of 113-0-0, the legislation now moves to the Senate.

"People in Illinois need to be able to trust law enforcement officers, and when someone impersonates an officer, it violates that trust," Blagojevich said. "This legislation will make Illinois a safer place to live, and I encourage members of the Senate to follow the House's lead."

House Bill 5336 would increase penalties for "aggravated false personation of peace officer" to a Class 2 felony -- carrying a sentence of three to seven years in jail and up to four years of probation -- and would also broaden the definition of peace officer to include any homeland security officers and local, state or federal authorities. The legislation would also create a new class of false personation, making impersonation of a peace officer or firefighter while carrying a deadly weapon a Class 3 felony, and would make it a Class 2 felony to unlawfully stop another person while operating a car that has flashing or rotating lights.

"Recently there have been several high-profile cases of criminals impersonating officers to gain access to their victims," said Osterman. "Every time these crimes take place, they not only hurt the victim, but put into jeopardy the trust we place in our law enforcement agencies. This bill will help send the message that Illinois is serious about protecting our communities and the officers who serve them."

In January, the Sun-Times documented a number of police impersonation cases in Chicago, including one man who was sentenced to only 24 months' probation and 10 days' community service for posing as a fake cop, even though he attacked a man at gunpoint. In another case, charges were dismissed against a man who allegedly identified himself as "ISA-Homeland Security" to get out of a traffic ticket because current law applies only to people claiming to be police officers, not to U.S. Department of Homeland Security officers.

Last year, Blagojevich signed legislation making it illegal to impersonate a pilot in restricted areas of Illinois airports. The law makes the impersonation of a pilot, airline employee, airport employee or contractor in restricted areas of an airport a Class 4 felony, punishable by one to three years in prison. The bill also prohibits anyone from claiming or falsely representing that they are a pilot, airline employee, airport employee or contractor at an airport in order to obtain the uniform, identification card or license of any airport or airline employee.

[News release from the governor's office]