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Mar 29, 2007 12:17 am US/Eastern
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Dozens Arrested For Posing As Police
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MIAMI DADE (CBS4) ―
They had badges, the right clothes, and guns, but they weren't the police. More than 50 people have been arrested for allegedly posing as law enforcement officers during 'Operation Blue Streak.'
Full details of the 7 month undercover sting will be released Wednesday, but with the help of our news partners at the
Miami Herald here's what is known about the arrests.
Since last July, nearly 80 police cars across South Florida have been broken into along with the officer's homes. Thieves stole badges, clothing, and any other law enforcement gear they could get their hands on. They also stole 25 assault rifles and handguns. Some of the items were sold, but others were used by police impersonators to pull over motorists, or even worse, issue fake orders over the police radio to divert officers from actual crime scenes.
Miami Herald reporter David Ovalle broke the story. He said those arrested so far belong to various loose-knit groups who operated independently. Some sold police gear to others who have yet to be linked to crimes. Others arrested by the task force were isolated ''wannabes.''
Among those arrested in the sting were 7 men caught trying to trade stolen police guns for drugs with undercover detectives, and 3 men who were allegedly programming radios to broadcast on frequencies used by police.
The 'Operation Blue Streak' task force said they expect more arrests in the future.
((© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this repo)