Man posed as cop at Social Services office in Uniondale, police say

Nassau County police arrested a homeless man on Wednesday and charged him with posing as a police officer at the Social Services office in Uniondale, authorities said.

Police said John Galifianakis, 73, went to the office around 8:42 a.m. Wednesday and asked employees about safeguarding his gun. An employee at the office on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard became suspicious and called police, the Nassau County Police Department said in a statement.

Police found Galifianakis with fake ID cards, weapons and law enforcement apparel, police said. Police determined he was not a law enforcement officer for any agency.

Galifianakis was charged with two counts of forgery, criminal impersonation, criminal possession of a weapon and five counts of failing to safeguard a firearm.

He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead. He was released on nonmonetary bail conditions and ordered to return to court next week.

He was represented by the Nassau County Legal Aid Society. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.