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Role Playing Cop Taken Away in Handcuffs
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 11, 2008
Modified Sep 11, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 11, 2008
Modified Sep 11, 2008
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Staten Island's James Maniscalco allegedly spent the last couple years convincing his neighbors that he was an NYPD officer, outfitting his 2003 Impala with lights to look like an undercover car, wearing an authentic uniform, and flashing a gold shield at local delis to get free coffee and snacks. In reality, he was just a humble security guard who wanted a little respect. Neighbors say they became suspicious after they threw a going-away party for Maniscalco, who'd said he was being deployed to Iraq. Only he never left. And he apparently went too far last fall when he actually pulled someone over for speeding. That prompted a call to a real cop in the neighborhood, who happened to work in Internal Affairs. After a lengthy investigation, he was arrested Monday and charged with criminal impersonation and harassment. At least he finally got to ride in a real squad car!
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arrest
cop
impersonating
nypd
police
staten island
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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