Crime & Safety

Former Stamford Cop Charged with ... Impersonating a Cop. (Again.)

If you ever see this man representing himself as a police officer, you should know that he isn't one.

When a New Canaan police officer stopped a car June 5 because a check showed that its registration had expired, through a back window he could see  shirts from a Stamford police officer's uniform on hangars according to a police report.

New Canaan police gave this account (an accusation not proven in court) of what happened:

The officer had been on stationary radar patrol on Oenoke Ridge Road near Lukes Wood Road when a 2002 Buick Regal passed by. The car's registration had expired in May 2013.

The driver, Theodore Winski, 61, of Jefferson Street in Stamford, told the officer he was "on the job" in Stamford. Also in the back seat were uniform pants and a police clipboard with blank summons pads.

But the car was not only unregistered — Winski's driver license had been suspended indefinitely.

The officer asked to see Winski's badge. Winski said he didn't have it with him. Stamford police were called, and they said Winski was no police officer and hadn't been one for years.

This isn't the first time Winski has been charged with impersonating a police officer and other charges. According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website, Winski was charged with impersonating police officer by Stamford police in 2003 and finally convicted on July 17, 2007.

Winski's car was searched. No gun or other contraband was found.

Winski was charged with impersonating a police officer, he later was released on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear June 19 in state Superior Court in Stamford.


13 previous convictions

According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website, Winski was convicted of these crimes:

Impersonating a police officer — charged March 14, 2003 by Stamford police, convicted and sentenced Jan. 4, 2006, sentenced to five years of probation, convicted on July 17, 2007, sentence revoked and probation restored on Aug. 27, 2007.

Sixth-degree larceny — charged May 31, 2003 by Stamford police, convicted on July 17, 2007, sentenced to probation on Aug. 27, 2007.

Forgery — charged May 10 2003 by Darien police, convicted Jan. 4, 2006, sentenced to probation, sentenced to violation of probation on Aug. 27, 2007.

Obtaining a controlled drug with a forged prescription — charged Feb. 2, 2005 by Greenwich police, issued an unconditional discarge, Jan. 4, 2006.

First-degree reckless endangerment — charged by Darien police on Sept. 28, 2006, convicted July 17, 2007, sentenced to a year in prison on Aug. 27, 2007.

Criminal impersonation — charged by Stamford police on April 8, 2005, pleaded guilty and issued an unconditional discharge Jan. 4, 2006.

Obtaining a controlled drug with a forged prescription — charged by Westport police on Jan. 13, 2005, sentenced on Feb. 8, 2006 to five years in jail, execution suspended after 30 days, charged with violating probation on July 30, 2007 and sentenced to six months in jail at some unspecified date.

Illegally altering a prescription — charged by Wilton police on June 15, 2006, convicted Jan. 4, 2007, sentenced to five years in jail, execution suspended after 30 days, charged with violating probation on July 30, 2007 and sentenced to six months in jail at some point.

Obtaining a controlled drug with a forged prescription on Jan. 17, 2005 — charged by Wilton police on Feb. 17, 2005

Same charge on June 10, 2005 — charged by Greenwich police that day, issued an unconditional discharge Jan. 4, 2006.

Issuing a bad check on June 10, 2005 — charged by Greenwich police that day, unconditional discharge, Jan. 4, 2006.

Same charge from Stamford police, unconditional discharge issued on Jan. 4, 2006.

Sixth-degree larceny on Nov. 13, 2005 — charged by Darien police Jan. 7, 2006, sentenced to 90 days in jail on Aug 27, 2007.





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