Former Senator's Brother, Bruce Browne, Arrested For Impersonating an Officer In Old Lyme

Point O Woods residents in Old Lyme were alarmed yesterday to see a man wearing what appeared to be some kind of military uniform walking around Sea View Drive with a gun. 

The man turned out to be Bruce W. Browne, the estranged half-brother of former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who Old Lyme Police arrested for impersonating a police officer. 

At about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, State Police Troop F personnel and Old Lyme Police Officers responded to a call from a resident of the beach community reporting this strange sight. The caller also told police that this same man was seen earlier that day operating what she described as a “police type vehicle.” 

Responding Troopers and Old Lyme Police Officers located a 2004 blue Crown Victoria bearing Ct. Reg. 684-ZNF at 32 Sea View Drive. The car was equipped with what appeared to be a disc and antennas mounted on the trunk and “hide-away” lights. 

Police spoke to several people at the residence, including Bruce W. Browne, 46, of 42 Woodgate Drive in Wolcott, who stated that he was the registered owner of the vehicle. Browne was wearing blue BDU type pants and upon being questioned about his earlier whereabouts, Browne admitted to walking on Sea View Drive wearing a black nylon gun belt with a loaded 9mm pistol in a holster on the belt. 

Located in his vehicle and in plain view were 3 loaded 9mm handguns, a black nylon duty belt with 2 sets of handcuffs, an expandable Asp, 12 fully loaded magazines with a total of 101 hollow point and 102 ball 9mm bullets.  

Browne also had a black tactical bullet proof vest with the word POLICE embroidered on the front and back. A silver metal TSA badge was attached to the front of the vest. 

Further investigation revealed that Browne commandeered a boat earlier that day by identifying himself as a “Police/Coast Guard” official. Browne stopped three separate vessels off the shore of Point O Woods. During these vessel stops, Browne asked boaters for their registrations and boater safety certificates. 

Browne, a former reserve member of the Coast Guard, had an expired Coast Guard identification card belonging to him. TSA and US Coast Guard officials were contacted and upon researching their personnel records, it was determined that Browne is not affiliated with either of these agencies.  

Police arrested Browne and charged him with impersonating a police officer, breach of peace, interfering with a police officer and possession of a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle. Browne was released on a $50,000 bond and will appear at GA 10 Court in New London on August 22.  

Old Lyme Police Officer William Zipadelli was the arresting officer, Old Lyme Town Police Officers, William Zipadelli, Martin Lane, Sal Milardo and Tom Heinssen were investigating officers. Browne's arrest was processed at Troop F in Westbrook.

U.S. Coast Guard officials will be conducting a follow-up investigation today with regards to similar incidents that they are currently investigating. 

From a Press Release issued By Old Lyme Police Department