East Patchogue man busted for flashing fake cop ID to dodge traffic tickets, DA says

A former New York City Health and Hospitals Special Officer posed as an active-duty cop numerous times to wriggle out of traffic tickets, prosecutors said Thursday.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Peterson Jules, 40, of East Patchogue, was arrested and arraigned on second-degree criminal impersonation charges for misrepresenting himself as a member of law enforcement during four traffic stops in Patchogue and Medford.

Jules allegedly pulled the same move each time: telling cops he was “a member of service” — a phrase typically reserved for law enforcement personnel. He then showed the officers a cellphone photo of an old New York City Hospital Police ID card and shield, according to the DA’s office.

The stops took place between Feb. 17 and June 4.

Prosecutor said Jules hadn’t worked in that role in years. In fact, he was terminated from his job as a special officer with NYC Health and Hospitals in April 2022, authorities said.

“The allegations against this defendant represent a deliberate pattern of violating traffic laws and evading accountability through criminal impersonation of a hospital police officer,” Tierney said, thanking Suffolk Police for the investigation.

Jules was arraigned Wednesday, pleading not guilty to four counts of second-degree criminal impersonation. Released without bail, he is due back in court Aug. 18.

_{Top: Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney (AP Photo/John Minchillo)}