Firefighter investigated for impersonating officer

Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 21, 2006

EVERETT – A deputy chief with the Everett Fire Department is under investigation for impersonating a police officer.

The deputy chief, who has been with the department since 1974, was not arrested after he reportedly stopped a vehicle on northbound I-5 near Bellingham about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Washington State Patrol Capt. Jeff DeVeer said.

However, he has been placed on paid administrative leave until the State Patrol finishes its investigation of the incident, Everett spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.

It’s too early to tell whether the longtime Fire Department employee will be disciplined, Reardon said. City firefighters generally do not have the authority to make traffic stops, she said.

The deputy chief was driving an Everett Fire Department vehicle, but was not wearing his uniform. He reportedly turned on his flashing lights to signal the other driver to pull over. The person pulled over and talked with the deputy chief.

After the deputy chief left, the driver of the other car called 911 and told dispatchers he or she might have been stopped by someone who was impersonating a police officer, DeVeer said.

A state trooper caught up to both drivers on the freeway and interviewed them, DeVeer said.

Neither DeVeer nor Reardon could say what prompted the firefighter to pull the other driver over.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.