# Chris Christie: "I Was a Law Enforcement Officer." Stolen Valor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 25, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725 "2015-10-25T15:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/1 "2015-10-25T15:06:45Z")
Not fifteen minutes ago on Face The Nation… governor Chris Christie stated emphatically “I Was a Law Enforcement Officer.” According to every search of his history, he was once a Prosecutor. He has never worn, let alone earned, a badge. This seems like a clear case of stolen valor… or is that just for pretenders who claim they served in the military? ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/2 "2015-10-25T15:12:03Z")
Maybe he meant to say Law Enforcement Officer of the Court… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/3 "2015-10-25T15:16:56Z")
I’m guessing that New Jersey classifies prosecutors as LEO. Stretching the actual on-the -ground reality but technically true. (if that is the case) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/4 "2015-10-25T15:19:01Z")
[Burlington County](http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/262/Prosecutor) > [@](#): > > **As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the County of Burlington** , I am pleased to provide the public with an understanding of the function of this office as we fulfill our responsibility to protect the public. [From here.](http://www.scpo.net/about.html) > [@](#): > > By 1912 New Jersey was only one of five states in the United States not to have locally elected district attorneys. In fact, even to this day New Jersey’s system of law enforcement remains unique in many respects, including the amount of power and authority vested in both the State Attorney General as the chief law enforcement officer of the state and the **County Prosecutors as the chief law enforcement officers of the county.** ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/5 "2015-10-25T15:19:52Z")
Prosecutors are officially considered “law enforcement officers” by the US Government. > **[gao-07-121.pdf](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-07-121.pdf)** > > 2.29 MB ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/6 "2015-10-25T15:19:58Z")
As the U.S. Attorney he served as “Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in New Jersey from January 17, 2002, to December 1, 2008,” per his Wikipedia page. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/7 "2015-10-25T15:33:51Z")
> [@CGav8r](#): > > As the U.S. Attorney he served as “Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in New Jersey from January 17, 2002, to December 1, 2008,” per his Wikipedia page. So IMO he’s stealing something when he keeps claiming he was appointed the day before the WTC attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/8 "2015-10-25T15:49:30Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Not fifteen minutes ago on Face The Nation… governor Chris Christie stated emphatically “I Was a Law Enforcement Officer.” > > According to every search of his history, he was once a Prosecutor. He has never worn, let alone earned, a badge. > > This seems like a clear case of stolen valor… or is that just for pretenders who claim they served in the military? From the New Jersey Supreme Court: > [@](#): > > Clearly the Legislature intended to give [the county prosecutor] dominant position and the primary responsibility for the enforcement of the criminal laws, not merely by conferring authority on him but by giving him the means of implementing such authority. In contrast, the sheriff, although he 168possesses by the common law broad powers of law enforcement in his county, is not given the right to incur expenses in the prosecution of criminals that has been granted to the county prosecutor. The inevitable result of this is that his work as a law enforcement officer has been rendered less effective than that of the county prosecutor, without, however, any diminution of his powers or responsibilities. Quoting State v. Winne, 96 A.2d 63, 79 (1953). Is the OP planning to return and concede error? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/9 "2015-10-25T15:52:42Z")
I’m not a big fan of Christie, but he was indeed a Law Enforcement Officer. All prosecutors are. I would love to see the statement in context, I’ll bet the context further reduces the stolen valor bit. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/10 "2015-10-25T16:07:21Z")
Does Christie enjoy shoving his face into running chainsaws? He’s literally correct in a technical sense. Right. Wonderful. If he thinks for a minute that the rest of the GOP field isn’t going to pounce on this and successfully treat it as a case of stolen valor he’s crazier than a shithouse rat. When you have a candidate all but blaming George W. Bush for 9/11, this is just too easy a target. OTOH, if it isn’t torn into, he’s so irrelevant he might as well concede now. In fact, I’ll just say it: He’s so irrelevant he might as well concede now. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/11 "2015-10-25T16:23:23Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > He’s literally correct in a technical sense. Right. Wonderful. If he thinks for a minute that the rest of the GOP field isn’t going to pounce on this and successfully treat it as a case of stolen valor he’s crazier than a shithouse rat. 30 years of Law & Order have put prosecutors on an equal footing with the police. This will be a “scandal” only in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/12 "2015-10-25T16:31:31Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Does Christie enjoy shoving his face into running chainsaws? > > He’s literally correct in a technical sense. Right. Wonderful. If he thinks for a minute that the rest of the GOP field isn’t going to pounce on this and successfully treat it as a case of stolen valor he’s crazier than a shithouse rat. When you have a candidate all but blaming George W. Bush for 9/11, this is just too easy a target. > > OTOH, if it isn’t torn into, he’s so irrelevant he might as well concede now. In fact, I’ll just say it: He’s so irrelevant he might as well concede now. Your logic makes no sense, he did not claim to be an ex-cop or to have but himself in the line of danger on a daily basis. He just said he was a Law Enforcement Officer. No big deal and probably won’t make a blip anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/13 "2015-10-25T18:28:02Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Is the OP planning to return and concede error? What error? The one where he asked if the claim was accurate? Will you return and admit your error in thinking the OP made an assertion by asking a question? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/14 "2015-10-25T18:42:28Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Quoting State v. Winne, 96 A.2d 63, 79 (1953). > > Is the OP planning to return and concede error? My error that I concede is not being an attornew nor having access to westlaw. I concede that this minor point which is part of NJ law is not shared by 90% of the state’s in the US, 100% of which “Face The Nation” broadcasts to. I WILL concede that this tiny loop-hole may just be the single smallest place his fat flabby-ass has ever been jammed through. And that it’s funny that someone who claims to be presidential would twist that techicallity without any thought to public qualification. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/15 "2015-10-25T18:47:13Z")
FWIW you can find case cites on Google Scholar, which is free. Don’t need Westlaw. Also, you can get a badge as a prosecutor. Not just in New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/16 "2015-10-25T18:57:35Z")
> **[Christie: Black Lives Matters Is 'Calling For The Murder Of Police Officers'...](https://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/christie-black-lives-matters-calling)** > > GOP hopeful Gov. Chris Christie asserted over the weekend that the Black Lives Matter movement was calling for the death of police officers because President Barack Obama has encouraged lawlessness. By way of our good friends at _Crooks and Liars_… **Christie: Black Lives Matters Is ‘Calling For The Murder Of Police Officers’ And Obama ‘Encourages It’** And the horse upon in which he rode. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/17 "2015-10-25T19:03:03Z")
[del]And[/del] With the horse upon in which he rode. Fixed it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/18 "2015-10-25T19:14:55Z")
There is absolutely nothing misleading, dishonest, trivializing, self-aggrandizing, or anything else suspect about a prosecutor claiming to be a law enforcement officer. It is simply a statement of fact and a solid fact, not some technicality. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/19 "2015-10-25T19:18:21Z")
[Here’s the transcript.](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-october-25-trump-christie-nunes-schiff/) > [@](#): > > I will be a president who will back up law enforcement, back up the police officers, **because I was a law enforcement officer. I know how hard these jobs are.** And they need to be backed up. So sitting in a comfy office is the same as patrolling the streets. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725/20 "2015-10-25T19:26:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > [Christie: Black Lives Matters Is 'Calling For The Murder Of Police Officers' And Obama 'Encourages It' | Crooks and Liars](http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/christie-black-lives-matters-calling) > > By way of our good friends at _Crooks and Liars_… > > **Christie: Black Lives Matters Is ‘Calling For The Murder Of Police Officers’ And Obama ‘Encourages It’** > > And the horse upon in which he rode. Now that is a statement truly worthy of contempt. This is one more reason why Christie is unfit to be Governor, never mind President. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-christie-i-was-a-law-enforcement-officer-stolen-valor/735725.md?page=2)