Louisiana Firefighter Charged With Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer

Posted by: Curt Varone January 25, 2024 0

A volunteer firefighter in Louisiana is facing charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer after he entered two establishments wearing his fire department uniform and a gun, and identified himself as an arson investigator. Michael Shane Miller was arrested by the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office following the January 12, 2024 incident.

Miller reportedly entered a credit union and a gun store claiming he was required by Jefferson Davis Parish to wear his gun. Beauregard Parish Deputies contacted Jefferson Parish and state fire agencies and confirmed Miller was not a law enforcement officer. He was charged with False Personation of a Peace Officer. Here is a link to the statute.

Here is news video coverage of the story (I was not able to embed it): https://www.kplctv.com/2024/01/25/volunteer-firefighter-accused-impersonating-officer-beauregard-parish/

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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