HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 55-O-25 Amending Title 9, Chapter 5, “General Offenses” to Include Prohibition of Impersonating a Firefighter and to Increase the Penalty for Impersonation of Law Enforcement Officials9/2/2025
55-O-25
AN ORDINANCE
Amending Title 9, Chapter 5, “General Offenses” to Include Prohibition
of Impersonating a Firefighter and to Increase the Penalty for
Impersonation of Law Enforcement Officials
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston is a home rule municipality under the
Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, it is critical to prevent impersonation of law enforcement
officers to protect Evanston residents and maintain clarity in legitimate police
interactions; and
WHEREAS, recent examples of impersonating a law enforcement officer
include the shootings of elected officials in Minnesota by someone dressed in uniform
and identifying himself as a police officer; and
WHEREAS, both State and Evanston laws prohibit impersonating a police
officer, see 720 ILCS 5/17-2(b); Section 9-5-18-2; and
WHEREAS, given the rise in impersonation of law enforcement, the City
of Evanston desires to strengthen its existing impersonation ordinance;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1. Title 9, Chapter 5, “General Offenses” is hereby amended as
follows:
9-5-18-2. IMPERSONATING POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
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No person, other than a member of the Police or Fire Departments, or a properly
elected official, shall assume to act as a police or fire officer in any capacity within the
City.
Any person not a member of the Police or Fire Departments, who shall
impersonate any of the members of said departments, who shall maliciously or with the
intent to deceive, use or imitate any of the signs, signals or devices adopted and used
by said departments, or who shall wear in public the uniform adopted as the police or
fire uniform, shall be fined seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) for each offense.shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a term of incarceration not to exceed
six (6) months and a fine not to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). A
separate and distinct offense shall be regarded as committed each day on which such
person or persons shall violate the provisions of this Section. Penalties under this
Section are in addition to any applicable penalties under State law.
SECTION 2: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
SECTION 3: If any provision of this Ordinance or application thereof to
any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such invalidity
shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Ordinance that can be given effect
without and the invalid application or provision, each invalid application of this
Ordinance is severable.
SECTION 4: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect beginning
upon passage.
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SECTION 5: The findings and recitals contained herein are declared to
be prima facie evidence of the law of the City and shall be received in evidence as
provided by the Illinois Compiled Statutes and the courts of the State of Illinois.
Introduced: _________________, 2025
Adopted: ___________________, 2025
Approved:
__________________________, 2025
_______________________________
Daniel Biss, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Stephanie Mendoza, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
______________________________
Alexandra B, Ruggie, Corporation Counsel
September 2
September 29
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