Media Release
Sydney man charged for impersonating an AFP officer
Editor’s note: images of the seized items, arrest footage and audio grabs from AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty are available via Hightail
A Double Bay man is expected to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (25 October, 2025) in relation to allegedly using fake law enforcement badges and possessing multiple prohibited firearms.
An AFP investigation began on 23 September, 2025, after a member of the public handed in an AFP badge and identification to Bondi Police Station.
AFP officers seized the badge and identification for further examination. A small amount of cocaine was allegedly found behind the identification card.
Further inquiries into the name on the identification card led police to the man, 50.
AFP members executed a search warrant in Double Bay on 24 October, 2025. Items seized included hats and t-shirts bearing AFP insignia, four replica firearms, 11 high-quality gel blasters, allegedly fraudulent badges and identification from other law enforcement agencies, large amounts of steroids and 14g of cocaine.
The man was charged with:
- One count of possessing prohibited firearms, namely gel blasters and replica firearms, contrary to contrary to section 7(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW);
- One count of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, contrary to section 25 of the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW); and
- One count of impersonating a Commonwealth public official, contrary to section 148.1(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He faces a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment for the impersonation charge.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said impersonating Commonwealth officials and the potential misuse of police identification and insignia would not be tolerated.
“Falsely representing yourself as any kind of law enforcement or Commonwealth official poses a genuine danger to public safety,” Det Supt Fogarty.
“This type of behaviour is extremely concerning and if anyone has information about the fraudulent use of police identification, please contact your local police station. We thank the member of the public who handed in the badge and identification.”
