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.

The badge Freilich wears is blank where there ... information regarding the license plates on Freilich's private vehicle. State Police said they did not authorize the "official" plate on ...

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.