New Alabama Law Expands Definition of Illegally Impersonating Police Officer

Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday signed into law SB115, known as the Officer Impersonation Prevention Act, as part of her ongoing Safe Alabama public safety package.

“Safeguarding the law enforcement profession is just plain common sense, and bolstering the existing law here adds one more tool in our toolbox,” Ivey said in a press release.

“Every Alabamian deserves to know that the men and women entrusted with enforcing our laws are fully qualified and properly certified.”

It’s already a Class C felony to impersonate a police officer in Alabama, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to state code.

But under the new law, this crime now extends to those who accept a job as an officer, knowing they are ineligible either due to state law or because their certification with the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission has been previously revoked or suspended, according to its text.

Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R- Prattville, sponsored the legislation.

The law will go into effect on Oct. 1.

As another part of the Safe Alabama package, Ivey signed SB116 into law earlier this week, which makes possession of a Glock switch a Class C felony in Alabama.

In her statement Friday she also went on to highlight HB202, otherwise known as the Back the Blue bill, which would expand civil and criminal immunity for police officers.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Rex Reynolds', a former police chief in Huntsville, is currently pending action in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and has been the subject of heated arguments among state lawmakers.

Opponents of the bill have expressed concerns that it would make it more difficult to hold officers accountable for legal violations.

“Not only are we building public trust in the men and women who serve, but we are also working to better protect them and enable them to do their jobs more effectively through legislation like our Back the Blue Bill,” the governor said.

“...I look forward to all our public safety bills reaching my desk, so we can create a safer Alabama,” said Ivey.

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