The acting head of the Pennsylvania State Police Marcus Brown could face theft charges in the community where he lives outside Harrisburg.
He was caught on camera allegedly taking signs that were critical of his decision to wear the state police uniform, even though he was never a Pennsylvania State Trooper himself.
The signs put up in a neighborhood outside Harrisburg criticize acting state police commissioner Marcus Brown. He wears the uniform of the state police but never graduated from the state police academy.
"The uniform is much more than a pair of pants and a shirt. It's a tradition, and it's something that's earned," said Ray Hayes.
Hayes graduated from the academy and was a state trooper for 25 years.
Hayes calls Marcus Brown an accomplished administrator who was well respected when he headed the Maryland State Police.
In a statement, Brown says he wears the Pennsylvania State Police uniform because it helps him represent the agency in dealing with the public.
"There have been a number of commissioners who were not state troopers and who did not go through the academy,"Hayes said.
The most recent is former commissioner Frank Noonan of Clarks Summit who did not wear a state police uniform. Noonan was a career FBI agent before heading the Pennsylvania State Police. He recently oversaw the manhunt and capture of Eric Frein in the Poconos.
With the uniform controversy making news, Ray Hayes worries Pennsylvanians will pay more attention to that, than to troopers' efforts to bring Eric Frien to justice.
"Hopefully, this won't overshadow the much larger and greater mission of the department," Hayes added.
State senator Jake Corman called on Governor Wolf to remove Marcus Brown as acting state police commissioner. So far, the governor is standing by him.
Brown has apologized for removing the signs from his neighborhood. In a statement he said he reacted as a father to protect his children and family.
