HATBORO, Pa. — A longtime fire police officer with Horsham Fire Company No. 1 in Pennsylvania has been terminated following allegations that he impersonated a law enforcement officer during a road rage incident, authorities say.
The incident occurred on June 21 when a woman reported being followed by a Dodge Charger while driving on Easton Road in Horsham Township, WPVI reports. The driver of the Charger, later identified as 60-year-old William McNichol, allegedly began following the woman after he believed she had cut him off in traffic.
Court documents state that McNichol exited his vehicle twice to confront the woman, reportedly yelling at her on both occasions. The situation escalated when, according to authorities, McNichol activated emergency lights in his personal vehicle as he continued to follow the victim onto York Road in Hatboro. The woman told police she believed she was being pulled over by a law enforcement officer.
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When both vehicles stopped, McNichol — holding a portable radio — continued to shout at the woman regarding her driving, according to police.
Hatboro police were able to identify McNichol through surveillance footage, witness interviews and dispatch records. In an interview with investigators, McNichol claimed the emergency lights in his vehicle were activated by accident when a cooler fell over. He told police he was following the driver to explain how dangerous her driving was.
McNichol was charged on July 2 with impersonating a public servant and harassment.
McNichol, who served as a fire police officer with Horsham Fire Company No. 1, was responsible for regulating traffic and crowds at active fire scenes. Fire Chief Lee Greenberg described McNichol’s alleged actions as “troubling” and confirmed that he has been terminated from the department.
“None of the training or instruction Mr. McNichol received during his membership with the Fire Company would have led him to believe that his actions were appropriate, acceptable, or lawful,” Greenberg said in a statement. “We just really want to instill to the public that this should not be a reflection on the rest of the department. This is one former member’s bad decision-making.”
A preliminary hearing for McNichol is scheduled for August 21.
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