Newark man convicted of impersonating police officer in South Orange

Davon Gordon
Davon Gordon

NEWARK, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced Nov. 17 that Davon Gordon, 35, of Newark was convicted by an Essex County jury of impersonating a police officer following a two-day trial before Superior Court Judge Alfonse Cifelli.

According to Assistant Prosecutor Alaina Caliendo, who tried the case, on or about Feb. 5, 2014, Gordon went to an auto repair shop in South Orange and impersonated a Newark police detective in hopes of receiving a discount for car repairs. The owner gave him a discount but grew suspicious based on Gordon’s behavior and actions over a two-week period. Eventually, the auto repair shop owner contacted South Orange police, who arrested Gordon. At the time of his arrest, Gordon was carrying a police badge and multiple Fraternal Order of Police cards. At trial witnesses testified that the badge in Gordon’s possession had not been issued by the Newark Police Department.

“The County of Essex saw justice today with the conviction of Davon Gordon. With this case and his previous cases, Gordon has shown a pattern of engaging in fraudulent activity that will not be tolerated,” Caliendo said in a press release.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 22. Gordon is facing 18 months in state prison, the maximum for the fourth-degree offense of impersonating a police officer.

Between 2001 and 2013, Gordon had seven prior felony convictions for theft, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and eluding police, and credit card fraud in Essex, Union, Atlantic, Passaic and Hudson counties. All were third- or fourth-degree offenses.

After sentencing in New Jersey, Gordon is expected to be sent to Prince William, Va., where he is facing charges for an armed robbery. Those are accusations. He is presumed innocent of those charges unless and until he is proved guilty in a court of law.