Gettysburg PA man accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer

A Gettysburg man was charged by police last month for falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer at a popular Gettysburg tourist site.

Jason La Barre, 53, of Gettysburg, faces charges of impersonating a public official after the incident that occurred at Sachs Covered Bridge on May 25, 2024, according to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police.

According to the release, police were called to the Sachs Covered Bridge in Freedom Township around 11:31 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2024, for a report of a disturbance.

Upon arrival, police made contact with three juveniles, ages 12, 13 and 15, who told officers La Barre attempted to restrain them, the release said.

According to one of the minors, they had spoken to La Barre, who was fishing, to ask if he had caught anything. At that point, La Barre confronted the minors for “causing a disturbance.”

A witness and the three juveniles told officers that La Barre had a “law enforcement badge” on his waistband, and La Barre displayed it, telling the juveniles they were under arrest for “causing a disturbance and trespassing “. Then, the minors said, La Barre “mandated that the minors present him with their fishing license,” according to the release.

Following police investigations, it was found that the minors had no fishing equipment, were not fishing and were not breaking any laws while visiting the bridge, the statement said.

State police later contacted La Barre at his residence and found that he was employed as a security guard with no jurisdiction outside of the workplace.