Pennsylvania Chief Resolves Impersonating a Police Officer Charge

Posted by: Curt Varone October 31, 2017 0

A Pennsylvania chief who was charged with impersonating a police officer when he stopped a motorcyclist using his emergency lights, has been able to resolve his case without a trial and without pleading guilty.

George Gerstacker, formerly a chief officer with the Monroeville Fire Department, was scheduled to go on trial yesterday in Monroeville Borough District Court before Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst. Instead, Chief Gerstacker agreed to an Accellerated Rehabilitative Disposition, in which the charges will be expunged in nine months if he stays out of trouble.

Chief Gerstacker used his emergency lights to stop a motorcyclist he considered to be driving erratically. After taking the driver’s information he told him to expect a citation in the mail. The incident occurred on September 13, 2016.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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