if you want, I'll tear you apart; but since I don't want to, I won't. Too many people are tearing each other apart on too many threads - it must be something in the water from the new SWC water cooler.

Anyway, here is your impersonating a LEO example:

If somebody installs red lights on his car, impersonating an officer, and gets behind you and turns them on, you will stop where otherwise you would not have.
You are including acts in the example - so it goes beyond speech.

Suppose a guy (in civvies) says to you, in the course of a normal conversation, "I'm a Michigan State Trooper".

Or, in the same type of situation, he says, "I'm retired Special Forces".

In both cases, he is neither - so, in each case, there is a "false pretense".

I see a distinction where there are acts accompanying the false pretense.

The question is what difference should that distinction make.

Regards

Mike