$25K bail for Broadview man charged with impersonating police officer

A Broadview man is accused of impersonating a police officer Tuesday in suburban Bensenville.

A Bensenville police officer arrested Edward Bufford, 53, after a motorist accused him of flashing red and blue lights and attempting to pull him over, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

The motorist refused to pull over and later flagged down an officer and gave a description of Bufford’s vehicle, officials said. Moments later, the officer stopped Bufford’s vehicle and pulled him over.

Bufford was wearing a U.S. Postal Service jacket, a belt mounted holster and a black police vest with handcuffs, a chain, a badge and a stun gun, prosecutors said. The officer also found a BB gun in the center console of his vehicle.

Bufford told officers he was a law enforcement officer for the U.S. Postal Service, and then claimed he was with the Canadian Pacific Railway but wasn’t able to show credentials, officials said.

He was charged with one count each of false impersonation of a peace officer, unlawful use of weapons, and possession of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights in motor vehicles, officials said.

Bufford was ordered held on $25,000 bail. He is due back in court Aug. 30.