By Josh Simeone J.Simeone@krdo.com
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EL PASO COUNTY – A man who studied to become a police officer now faces a felony charge after Colorado State Patrol says he was impersonating a police officer over the course of at least a month.
Colorado State Patrol charged 24-year-old Jason Doorenbos-Parry with “Complacency: Self satisfaction accompanied by the ignorance of actual danger or vulnerability.” The charge is a felony and can result in jail time and a fine.
Trooper Brent Butler made the arrest on October 28th when responding to a traffic complaint along I-25 near Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs.
Trooper Butler tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 the arrest opened up an investigation that includes victims and several law enforcement agencies in El Paso and Teller Counties.
State Patrol says they were first made aware of Doorenbos-Parry on September 24th, when he pulled behind a state trooper who had just made a routine traffic stop on the southbound side of I-25 near Palmer Lake. On October 1st, Trooper Butler tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 the 24-year-old was charged with impersonating a public servant after another incident on I-25 near Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs. The third incident occurred in the same area of Colorado Springs on October 28th. State Patrol says an investigation was conducted that now includes other victims who were pulled over by Doorenbos-Parry.
Further investigation found Doorenbos-Parry studied to become a police officer at Pikes Peak Community College. He also owns a local private security company, called “Colorado Springs Security,” with an office address listed on South Weber Street in Colorado Springs. A call made the number listed on the website is greeted with a voicemail from Doorenbos-Parry, who states he is a sergeant for the company’s patrol division.
State Patrol says Doorenbos-Parry’s car was equipped with flashing lights. He also wore a badge from his private security company that could have been mistaken for that of a real officer.
Trooper Butler says impersonating a police officer is nothing to be taken lightly.
Butler says, “part of our mission statement is first in traffic safety and we want our roads to be as safe as possible.”
Under Colorado law, it is illegal and can result in a misdemeanor charge to even possess flashing red or blue lights in the front of a car that is not authorized to be that of law enforcement.
Police impersonators received national attention when Lacy Miller of Ft. Collins, Colorado was abducted and killed by man impersonating law enforcement in 2003. One year later, Lacy’s mother, Wendy Cohen, pushed state lawmakers to increase the penalties for people caught impersonating officers and possessing flashing lights.
State Patrol says if you are unsure of someone who is pulling you over, there are several things you can do to protect yourself while also obeying the law.
CSP recommends:
- Turn on your hazards to notify the person behind you that you are aware they are trying to pull you over.
- Maintain your current speed - Do not speed up.
- If you are suspicious, call 911 or *CSP (star-CSP).
