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Motorist Says Kennedy Claimed He Was Police Officer; Lawmaker Denies Any Wrongdoing in Facebook Post

By: Tony Farina

While Niagara Falls Councilman Bill Kennedy vehemently denies any wrongdoing in a Facebook post, the motorist driving the car that hit Kennedy’s vehicle shortly after midnight on the morning of Sept. 15 insists he claimed there was no need for her to call the police because he was the police.

According to Roshena Shine who was driving the vehicle that backed into Kennedy’s truck at the McDonald’s on Pine Ave., Kennedy brandished a gold badge and told her that it was not necessary to call the police because he was the police.   

“I told him I didn’t see any uniform and therefore I was going to call the police, and that’s what I did,” Shine told the Niagara Reporter.

As we reported last week, a law enforcement source confirmed police were investigating the allegation made by Ms. Shine against the city lawmaker, but Police Chief Thomas Licata could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Picture of Councilman Kennedy’s vehicle after accident, sent to Niagara Reporter by motorist who struck vehicle. She claims he said he was a police officer and don’t bother reporting it to police.

Ms. Shine said she struck Kennedy’s vehicle as she tried to back out of the long line of cars at McDonald’s and said she admitted to Kennedy that it was her fault and he didn’t have to act like he was a policeman “because I had made up my mind to call for police help, not seeing any uniform.”

Ms. Shine said a passenger in her car who was wanted on a warrant jumped out of the car and ran when he heard Kennedy say he was the police.

“He [Kennedy] didn’t need to do that, he lied,” said Ms. Shine.  

 For his part, Kennedy did not return a telphone call seeking his side of the accident, but posted a denial of any wrongdoing on Facebook.  In his post, Kennedy said:

“Just so everyone is aware, I welcome an investigation into the accident that occurred.  I have nothing to hide & didn’t do anything wrong.  The story has nothing but embellishments & misstatements.”

Niagara Falls City Councilman William Kennedy

 For the record, it is a crime to impersonate a police officer or pretend to be a police officer under the criminal procedure law, and that includes displaying a police badge

As of this writing, police have made no official comment on their investigation of Ms. Shine’s allegations that Kennedy said he was a police officer and displayed a badge at the scene of the accident.

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