SALISBURY, Md. -- David Wayne Cox had all the trappings of a police officer. He had a car similar to an unmarked police cruiser. He had a badge. He even had a state trooper baseball cap.
There's just one problem. Cox isn't a cop.
He was paid to put out fires when he started working for the Salisbury Fire Department six months ago, but when he was pulled over near Mardela Springs by a Wicomico County sheriff's deputy, he allegedly pretended to be a deputy.
Cox, of the 5800 block of Eldorado Sharptown Road in Delaware, was driving a 1999 gray Crown Victoria equipped with an antennae on the rear trunk and clear deck strobe lights.
He was traveling north on Route 313 near the intersection of Route 54 when the deputy clocked him driving 46 in a 30 mph zone, according to court documents.
The deputy turned on his light. Cox pulled his vehicle over at the intersection of Route 313 north of Cross Road. As the deputy walked toward the car, he noticed Cox held something in his left hand as it hung out the window. It was a gold badge.
He told the deputy he worked with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, according to court documents. He said he "worked traffic." After examining the badge, the officer saw that it read "Deputy Sheriff Dorchester County," but the top in small letters read "Fire Co."
The deputy had Cox turn on the rear lights of the car. They worked, as did the rear red strobe lights, according to court documents. The deputy also found the car had a center console usually found in emergency vehicles.
Police contacted the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, at which a spokesperson said it didn't know Cox had a badge, according to police. They told police Cox was with the Salisbury Fire Department and should have a Wicomico County identification badge indicating he is with the fire police program.
According to court documents, the deputy let Cox go with a warning for the speeding violation but kept the badge.
The next day, the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office advised the deputy to file charges against Cox for allegedly impersonating an officer.
Cox was not arrested at the scene because the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office wanted to further consult with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office and speak with the State Attorney's Office, said 1st Sgt. Tim Robinson, a spokesman. Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a misdemeanor, and an immediate arrest is at the deputy's discretion when the violation is a misdemeanor, he said.
"We wanted to investigate thoroughly prior to proceeding with criminal charges," Robinson said.
Cox was arrested by Wicomico deputies Wednesday, and his car was impounded. Cox has since been released.
Members of the Wicomico Sheriff's Office inspected the car while in their care and found 250 rounds of ammunition, handcuffs, a mini Maryland State Police badge and a state police baseball cap.
Wicomico County investigators and Dorchester deputies found a Sig Sauer .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun after searching Cox's home. The gun is similar to the ones Delaware police use, said Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis. The gun was registered, but police are unsure if it was loaded at the time.
"It's not a cheap gun," Lewis said at a news conference.
This occurrence of a firefighter impersonating a law officer is the first in the history of the Salisbury department, according to Fire Chief David See.
"I'm extremely distraught that we have a member of the department that has been charged with this," See said.
This is also the first time an individual with the fire department has been arrested on a criminal offense, Lewis said.
At this time, Cox's future with the fire department is uncertain. He has been suspended without pay while the department waits for the outcome of this case. If convicted, See said, Cox will most likely be fired.
"I'm certainly not going to convict him before he's gone through a court of law," See said. "I can't just fire him because he's been charged."
Cox told police some, if not all, of the police paraphernalia in his possession was purchased on eBay, Lewis said. Cox also admitted to making other traffic stops within the county, Dorchester and the lower Delaware area. He is also under investigation by Delaware police, Lewis said.
Republished with permission of The Daily Times.
