A Cleveland man accused of impersonating a police officer on a dating site got locked up after law enforcement discovered what he was doing.
Gainesville police charged Dwayne Leon Whitmire, 47, with felony impersonating a police officer, felony identity theft, and misleading transmittal use of an official name, trade name, legal seal, or copyrighted symbol over a computer network.
Police say Whitmire created a “fraudulent, inappropriate, dangerous, and distasteful” online dating account depicting a Gainesville police officer. Whitmire allegedly used the officer’s identity in an attempt to “embarrass, harass, and discredit our organization for his benefit,” the police department says.
Following his arrest, police booked Whitmire at the Hall County Jail.
In a news release announcing his arrest, the police department said: “We pride ourselves on professionalism, integrity, loyalty, leadership, accountability and respect. We, the true members of the Gainesville Police Department, will continue to provide the community with the service and respect they deserve.”
