A Wading River firefighter was accused of passing himself off as an NYPD officer and continuing to maintain the falsehood even after he was confronted about it, prosecutors said.

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Wading River, NY

A former volunteer firefighter in Long Island is being accused of criminal activity after they allegedly posed as an NYPD police officer and stuck to their story even when challenged by their superiors, according to sources.

On Wednesday, January 25th, Mary Ortega, aged 46, from Wading River, was apprehended and indicted on charges of criminal misrepresentation and other allegations in Suffolk County Court.

The prosecution asserted that Ortega, who was affiliated with the Wading River Fire Department as a volunteer, appeared for his duties and answered one fire distress call wearing a uniform identical to that of the New York Police Department, regardless of the fact that he was not officially an officer.

It was reported that Ortega was in possession of a counterfeit NYPD ID card in addition to a wealth of imitation police garments. In May 2022, Ortega was put on suspension during a scrutinizing by the NYPD, which included an assessment of whether she had worked for the department. In response, it is claimed that she handed over a counterfeit NYPD ID as well as a counterfeit letter purportedly composed by State Senator Simcha Felder.

Prosecutors stated that Ortega had generated a faked correspondence, pretending to be composed and signed by Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzales. These letters falsely claimed that Ortega had been commissioned as an official of the NYPD, working in an undercover gang and drug division.

In the end, she confessed the truth: investigators determined that she had not ever been employed nor had volunteered for the NYPD. Allegedly, she owned up to buying a counterfeit ID card, along with a law enforcement badge and other police gear.

"The defendant here is said to have broken the faith of the Wading River public by avowing to be a law enforcement officer from the New York City Police, and then unlawfully beefing up this misdemeanour by allegedly submitting forgeries from two senior representatives to cover up her first offence," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney declared.

The office of which I am a part upholds the brave servicemen and servicewomen of the force of law execution and part of this adherence involves the strict regulation of any individuals who seek to acquire an unjust benefit from the honour they represent. On Wednesday Ortega was granted release on her own recognizance after avowing innocence to the charges listed herein: 

three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument - 2nd degree (felony), 

three counts of falsifying business records - 1st degree (felony), 

three counts of offering a false instrument for filing - 1st degree (felony) and criminal impersonation - 2nd degree (misdemeanor).

Her reappearance before court is scheduled for Thursday, 9th March.