Youlen gained his police powers using a little-known provision of state law that allows private citizens to petition the courts for the authority to carry a gun, display a badge and make arrests.

For more than two years, Michael Fanone’s muddied D.C. police badge was kept in a zip-top ... a former federal prosecutor in D.C. who is now in private practice. Macchiaroli had prosecuted ...

They also found two counterfeit police badges, one of them a shiny gold Department ... Nearly all — 96% — were stolen from private citizens. The report also found a shrinking turnaround ...

At one time, he said private companies had their own police forces. "Everybody who was anybody had a badge in Chicago," Oda said. The show also offered opportunities to donate to causes.