New London — A former New London police officer charged with making an illegal traffic stop and flashing his retirement badge is likely to have the criminal charges against him dismissed.

Retired Lt. William R. “Bill” Lacey, 64, was granted accelerated rehabilitation on Monday, a diversionary program that will lead to the dismissal of the criminal charges if he stays out of trouble for two years. 

Lacey, walking with a cane, appeared before Judge Hunchu Kwak in New London Superior Court with his attorney, retired New London Deputy Police Chief Marshall Segar. Segar said Lacey was grateful to the court, remorseful and planned an apology to the occupants of the vehicle and to his former colleagues at the New London Police Department.

“Mr. Lacey did not knowingly violate anybody’s civil rights in this action. As to impersonating a police officer, whether the moment got the better of him is for you to decide,” Segar said.

On Nov. 4, Lacey was driving his Dodge pick-up truck on Route 32 when he flashed his headlights at a vehicle in front of him that, in his view, was driving erratically. Lacey pulled up parallel with the red Mitsubishi and maneuvered his vehicle to the right to “push” the car toward the guardrail, where it stopped.

During his confrontation with the car’s passengers, police said a car accident occurred when another vehicle attempted to avoid hitting his pick-up. Lacey asked for the driver’s license, registration, insurance and key of the vehicle during an exchange captured on a cell phone video that can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/melissa.pou.96. (Editors note: This video contains profanity.)

Lacey told police he had announced he was a retired police officer and that the badge he showed them was his retirement badge. The badge was confiscated by police during his arrest when he was charged with impersonating a police officer, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree unlawful restraint.

In court on Monday, Judge Hunchu Qwak said he factored in Lacey’s three decades of service to the community and the fact that there were no injuries involved in the subsequent accident. He ruled that while the charges were “a serious matter,” Lacey was not likely to reoffend, one of the conditions of his acceptance into the two-year program.

Prosecutor Rafael Bustamante objected to Lacey’s acceptance into the diversionary program and said Lacey could have called police instead of taking matters into his own hands.

Kwak ordered that Lacey’s retirement badge be forfeited and that he make a $400 charitable donation to the police department. Lacey will report back to the court on Dec. 15, 2021.

g.smith@theday.com