A former Kingston police officer fired in 2007 still acts like he’s a cop at times and his antics got him arrested for impersonating a police officer in Berks County, according to charges filed Wednesday.
Daniel Griffin, 45, was captured in downtown Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday morning on an arrest warrant from Fleetwood Borough police. The warrant claims he pulled a badge and identified himself as a cop when police pulled him over in a personal vehicle customized to look like an unmarked police car.
Kingston officials fired Griffin in 2007. He was later convicted for altering documents and forging a signature of his police chief to obtain a tactical shotgun manufactured only for police departments.
“If you remember, we arrested him. Nothing surprises me,” said Kingston police Chief Keith Keiper. “He kept saying he was a police officer after he was arrested.”
Griffin, of Swoyersville, is charged with impersonating a police officer and providing false information to law enforcement. Magisterial District Judge Michael Dotzel of Wilkes-Barre Township released Griffin on unsecured bail. Dotzel ordered Griffin to answer to the charges in Berks County within 10 days.
After his arraignment, Griffin spoke to reporters and called his arrest a “political issue” and retaliation by Kingston officials for filing a federal lawsuit against them after his arrest. He insisted he was never fired, but retired because of a disability. Griffin claims the charges in Berks County are “false” and said he “took no official action whatsoever.”
According to arrest papers:
Police on May 7 spotted a 2003 gray Ford Crown Victoria Interceptor that “appeared to be an unmarked police vehicle.” The car had a black front license plate that says “POLICE” and red “K-9” decals on the trunk. After clocking the vehicle traveling 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, police stopped the car.
Griffin immediately hopped out of the vehicle, waving a police badge. He ignore commands to return to his vehicle, approached the officers, identified himself as a Kingston cop, and flashed a gold Kingston police badge. He then handed over an expired state-issued police identification card.
Griffin said the car he was driving is his personal vehicle, but he uses it for police work. He said he’s retired, but still works as a K-9 officer and undercover detective.
Griffin was issued a warning for speeding. Police later contacted Keiper, who advised Griffin was terminated and was told not to associate himself with the department.
Police in Fleetwood did not say whether the badge Griffin flashed was authentic. Keiper on Wednesday said Griffin had relinquished his department-issued badge at the time he was fired.
In December 2008, Griffin filed a federal lawsuit against Kingston, its administrator, police chief and civil service commission, alleging the charges stemming from the gun purchase were “planned, conceived and plotted” with the intent of “ruining his reputation.” Police said Griffin bought the gun in 2003, but they weren’t tipped off to the purchase until May 2007 when Griffin submitted a reimbursement form to the municipality under the auspice of his uniform allowance.
Griffin, the department’s firearms instructor, claimed he purchased the gun for the department’s use. He has appealed his conviction and says his sentence of probation has been “stayed,” pending the appeal.
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Other Information: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20090513_ap_firedpacopaccusedofimpersonatingofficer.html
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