N.J. Cop Impersonator May Have Ruined Chances To Become Officer: Nutley Police Director

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police arrested a 19-year-old Jackson resident on Friday for allegedly impersonating an officer after finding a cache of police-related items in his possession, including a badge, handcuffs and a replica handgun.

According to the Nutley Police Department, officers received a report earlier in the week that a man identified as Christopher Ciccone, of Jackson, was allegedly impersonating an officer and was in possession of a firearm. Police were reportedly provided with photos of Ciccone wearing police attire and a badge around his neck, authorities said.

Nutley officers later spotted Ciccone in a silver Ford Crown Victoria near his previous residence in town and stopped him for questioning. During the encounter, officers found Ciccone in possession of a bevy of police-related gear, including a badge, handcuffs, a dash cam, a flashing light, a police scanner, an air soft gun and a replica 9mm Beretta handgun with two, blank-filled magazines, authorities stated.

Police arrested Ciccone and charged him with impersonating a law officer and possession of prohibited weapons. He was released pending a court hearing.

Police Director Alphonse Petracco described Ciccone as a “young man that took the wrong route in his desire to be a police officer.”

It may have been possible for Ciccone to actually get into law enforcement, however an arrest like this makes it unlikely now, Petracco stated.

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