Mayor of small South Carolina town sneaks into town hall to change locks and take over town's checkbook, then pulls over state trooper three weeks later

[Jenna]

In the two decades since Jim Preacher arrived in rural Norway, he's been this tiny town's police chief, self-proclaimed constable and now the mayor. He's pulled over a state trooper who wrote him a speeding ticket, and sneaked into town hall before he was sworn in so he could change the locks and take over the town's checkbook.
Preacher, 66, half-heartedly apologizes for bringing bad publicity to the town of only 337 people. But he also left no doubt he has big plans to try to save Norway, which hasn't written a budget in years, has lost so much revenue it had to disband its police department, and currently uses Preacher to read meters and run its water system.

Less than three weeks later, a state trooper said he stopped Preacher because he was speeding just outside of town limits in Norway's old police car. On the trooper's video of the stop, Preacher can be heard saying he is the town's constable and was investigating a man with a gun at a convenience store. The trooper notes Norway disbanded its police department and issues the ticket for going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone anyway.
But when the highway patrolman pulled away, Preacher flipped on his blue lights and pulled over the trooper, threatening to charge him with interfering with a police officer. The trooper called his supervisor, who is heard on the tape saying, "I know it's aggravating. I know exactly who you are dealing with."

More here: The Associated Press: SC mayor sneaks into town hall, pulls over trooper

[Ducky]

I was just about to post this. Welcome to my state, I wish I could say this kind of idiot was an endangered species here.

[Five-0]

That guy is an idiot. I would be curious as to his probable cause to stop the trooper.

[Buttercup]

What an ass.

[lewisipso]

But when the highway patrolman pulled away, Preacher flipped on his blue lights and pulled over the trooper, threatening to charge him with interfering with a police officer. The trooper called his supervisor, who is heard on the tape saying, "I know it's aggravating. I know exactly who you are dealing with."

And then told the trooper to arrest preacher for impersonating a police officer. ( I can see this happening here)

[KaiGywer]

Would they be considered Norwegians?

[bayern]

Nah, in addition to Norway, we have a town called Bamberg (germany), and would you believe;, Coward; Due West; Welcome (I guess if your not a Yankee), Wisacky, and one of my favorates, South.

[Standard Dave]

Nah, in addition to Norway, we have a town called Bamberg (germany), and would you believe;, Coward; Due West; Welcome (I guess if your not a Yankee), Wisacky, and one of my favorates, South.

They struggled with original place names then

[Ducky]

I've always been fond of Ninety Six, SC; Elgin (because they're two of them); and there is a small area near me called Petticoat Junction.

[jmur5074]

Since he's no longer certified to be a LEO, can he just self appoint himself "town constable" like that?

Around these parts he can't. I'd say he deserves a trip to jail for impersonating a police officer.

[ChesCopPodz]

Since he's no longer certified to be a LEO, can he just self appoint himself "town constable" like that?

Around these parts he can't. I'd say he deserves a trip to jail for impersonating a police officer.

While I agree, I think the trooper handled it exactly right. Stop so you don't get in the news over a "car chase", refuse the ticket, and call your supervisor so the higher-ups can handle it.