Long Island Man Impersonated FDNY Lieutenant: Police

YAPHANK, NY – A Long Island man was arrested Saturday night for impersonating a FDNY lieutenant when he was pulled over for a traffic stop, Suffolk Police said.

According to police, Sixth Precinct Community Support Unit Officer Keith Liere pulled over a 2002 Mercedes Benz for vehicle and traffic violations on County Road 101 and Long Island Avenue in Yaphank around 7 p.m. The driver, 56-year-old Richard Geller, handed the officer a FDNY lieutenant shield and identification that the officer determined was false, police said.

Geller, of La Bonne Vie Drive West in East Patchogue, was arrested and charged with second degree criminal impersonation and third degree possession of a forged instrument. He was also issued seven additional summonses for various vehicle and traffic law violations, police said. Geller will be arraigned at a later date.