Former Burlington policeman charged with impersonating an officer

 Burlington police officials are considering policy changes following the arrest of a former corporal who was charged in Greensboro last month with impersonating an officer.

Rick Donald McBride, 31, was charged April 4 with representing himself as a Burlington police officer at Arrington Police Distributors in Greensboro.

McBride, who worked for the Burlington Police Department from January 2000 to November 2007, was talking to some of the employees at Arrington, which sells police equipment. During that conversation, McBride represented himself as a police officer, said Greensboro police Sgt. Mike Richey.

"An Alamance County deputy sheriff was present at the time and overheard the conversation," Richey said.

The deputy knew that McBride was no longer on Burlington's police force, and Greensboro police were contacted.

"(McBride) showed a badge and an identification card, and they were seized," Richey said.

McBride was taken into custody and charged with impersonating a police officer, which is a misdemeanor. He was placed under $5,000 bond, Richey said.

Richey said the badge and card were "official" Burlington police identification and are considered evidence in this case. Capt. Greg Seel, spokesman for the Burlington Police Department, said that the items have not been confirmed as official by anyone from Burlington police as of yet.

An officer from the training division, which issues police officers all their equipment as well as the badge and identification, is working with Greensboro police to determine whether the items were the ones issued to McBride while he was still on the force.

Based on records kept by the training division, McBride returned his badge and identification along with all his other equipment on his last day of work on Nov. 29, 2007, Seel said.

"We are in the process of determining exactly what items he used to represent himself as a police officer," Seel said. "Based on what that tells us, we will look at areas to see if there are any specific changes of policies and procedures that need to be made."

It is unknown why McBride is no longer working at the Burlington Police Department. Seel said that because of personnel laws he can't discuss McBride's employment.

Aaron Noble, Burlington's human resources director, released that McBride was hired Jan. 3, 2000 as a patrolman. On Sept. 26, 2005, he was promoted to corporal - the rank he held when his "employee/employer relationship ended." McBride's salary at the time was $38,771.

During his time at the police department, McBride was recognized as employee of the month in October 2000, October 2005 and November 2006, Seel said.

Last November, McBride received the Spirit of Freedom Award from the Times-News. McBride, who was nominated for the award by a 7-year-old girl in the community that he helped, was honored in the service in uniform category. His story was featured in the Times-News Nov. 26. He was also presented with a framed copy of the article at a luncheon, and the Times-News made a $500 donation in his name to the charity of his choice.

McBride worked for a police department in South Carolina for two years before joining the Burlington Police Department. He couldn't be reached for comment.