Credit: Hatboro Police Department.
William McNichol, the former Horsham Fire Department police officer who is accused of impersonating a police officer and pulling over another driver following a road rage incident, is scheduled for his preliminary hearing today, Aug. 21, according to court documents.
The incident took place on June 21, when McNichol thought he was cut off by another driver in the area of Easton and Horsham roads. McNichol told officers that he turned his car around after being cut off to tell the other driver that she was driving dangerously, according to an interview with the Hatboro Police Department following the incident.
When the drivers got to the traffic light at the intersection of York and Horsham roads, McNichol drove ahead of her on her left and stopped his car, officials reported. He got out of his car for a second time and started yelling at her again.
McNichol, who was driving in his personal vehicle that had emergency lights equipped, activated those emergency lights to initiate the traffic stop. McNichol told officers that his cooler fell inside his car, which led to the emergency lights on his personal vehicle to turn on, officials said.
According to witnesses at the scene, McNichol got out of his car and began walking toward the other driver with a radio in his hand and yelling at the driver.
An EMT with the Second Alarmer's Rescue Squad called a Hatboro Police Department officer to report that he witnessed what he thought was a Horsham Fire Police Officer conduct a traffic stop, according to court documents, at the intersection of South York and Byberry roads in Hatboro.
Investigators handling the case checked surveillance cameras in the area of where this incident unfolded. The videos all captured McNichol get out of a Dodge Charger more than once to approach another car and talk to the driver.
Days after the incident, McNichol was let go by the Horsham Fire Department.
"None of the training or instruction Mr. McNichol received during his membership with the Fire Company would have led him to believe that his actions were appropriate, acceptable, or lawful," said Horsham Fire Chief Lee Greenberg.
"We want to make it absolutely clear that Mr. Nichol acted entirely on his own and without any direction, guidance, or influence from the Fire Company," Greenberg added. "Upon learning that Mr. Nichol was to be criminally charged in this car, the Fire Company acted swiftly and decisively to terminate his membership."
In Pennsylvania, the maximum sentence for impersonating a public servant is two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, as it is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor. This offense involves falsely pretending to hold a public service position with the intent to deceive others into submitting to your authority or acting to their prejudice.
