Harford County deputies say a 56-year-old man rolled into the Joppatowne shopping center this week in a car lit up with red and blue emergency lights, flashed what looked like police credentials, and told them he was a Maryland State Police trooper. Investigators allege he even exposed a firearm at one point, then tucked it away, behavior that quickly turned a routine response into something much more serious. A search that followed turned up police-style gear, badges, ID cards, and an SUV wired with emergency lights, according to officials. Now the sheriff’s office wants to know whether anyone else crossed paths with the alleged fake cop.
How deputies say they first spotted him
Deputies from the Southern Precinct were answering a call at the Joppatowne shopping center on April 30 when they noticed a vehicle cruising through the lot with red and blue emergency lights, an obvious red flag for anyone who is not clearly marked law enforcement, as reported by WMAR-2 News. When they pulled the car over for an investigative stop, the driver allegedly claimed to be a Maryland State Police trooper and produced credentials that, at first glance, appeared official.
Detectives, however, spotted details that did not line up. Those inconsistencies prompted them to loop in allied agencies and dig deeper, a coordination that led investigators to seek search warrants to confirm whether the man was actually a sworn officer.
Search warrant turned up convincing police gear
Once detectives executed the warrants, they say they found tactical vests marked "police," outer vest badges, identification cards, and an SUV set up with emergency lights, items that officials say could easily pass as the real deal if you were caught off guard, according to CBS Baltimore. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler told the outlet he was troubled by how authentic some of the gear looked and pointed out that most people, seeing those lights behind them, would assume help had arrived, not a suspected impersonator.
Arrest, charges and bond
Authorities later identified the driver as 56-year-old Robert Dicocco and arrested him on May 1. He is facing 10 counts tied to impersonating a police officer, according to Patch. The outlet reports that Dicocco was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond while detectives continue to sort through the case.
Investigators urge anyone approached to come forward
The Harford County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who believes they were stopped, approached, or contacted by the man while he was claiming to be an officer to reach out to Sergeant Majewski with the Special Operations Division at 443-567-7086, according to WMAR-2 News. Investigators say the probe is still active as they work to determine whether other encounters have not yet been reported.
Legal note
Deputies say the driver displayed a firearm while inside a restaurant and later concealed it, conduct they described as illegal under state law, and prosecutors will ultimately decide what additional charges, if any, are appropriate beyond the impersonation counts, according to CBS Baltimore. Investigators also confirmed with the Maryland State Police that there is no sworn officer under the name the suspect allegedly used, officials said.
Anyone with information or video is urged to contact the Harford County Sheriff's Office or submit an anonymous tip. Full contact details are available on the agency's website, on the Harford County Sheriff's Office contact page.
