The following is a press release from the Marion Co. Sheriff's Office.
SALEM, Ore. - Just after noon on Saturday Deputy Ethan Griffith was driving southbound on Lancaster Drive in Salem when he conducted a traffic stop on a driver who he observed operating an unsafe vehicle (large crack in windshield).
As he approached the driver, 29-year-old David Hickman, the first thing Hickman said was, "Shouldn't I be the one giving the tickets?" Deputy Griffith was surprised by this statement and asked Hickman what he meant.
Hickman told him he had just been hired by Gresham Police Department two days prior and had his choice between the State Police and the Gresham Police Department. He also said he was scheduled to attend the Police Academy soon.
Deputy Griffith congratulated him and then returned to his patrol car to complete the traffic citations. He then returned to Hickman's vehicle and explained the citations to him. Hickman said he understood the citations but asked if Deputy Griffith would just issue him a warning because he was a police officer.
Deputy Griffith told him no and gave Hickman the traffic citations.
Deputy Griffith then contacted the Gresham Police Department and determined Hickman was not a police officer for Gresham and was not scheduled to attend the Police Academy.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. Deputy Griffith made contact with Hickman at his Salem home and arrested him for Criminal Impersonation of a Police Officer and transported him to the Marion County Jail.
As he approached the driver, 29-year-old David Hickman, the first thing Hickman said was, "Shouldn't I be the one giving the tickets?" Deputy Griffith was surprised by this statement and asked Hickman what he meant.
Hickman told him he had just been hired by Gresham Police Department two days prior and had his choice between the State Police and the Gresham Police Department. He also said he was scheduled to attend the Police Academy soon.
Deputy Griffith congratulated him and then returned to his patrol car to complete the traffic citations. He then returned to Hickman's vehicle and explained the citations to him. Hickman said he understood the citations but asked if Deputy Griffith would just issue him a warning because he was a police officer.
Deputy Griffith told him no and gave Hickman the traffic citations.
Deputy Griffith then contacted the Gresham Police Department and determined Hickman was not a police officer for Gresham and was not scheduled to attend the Police Academy.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. Deputy Griffith made contact with Hickman at his Salem home and arrested him for Criminal Impersonation of a Police Officer and transported him to the Marion County Jail.
