commentary by Patrick H. Moore
There’s little doubt that most of us at times have fantasized about being something (or someone) other than who we are. For example, in my (not so) secret moments, I sometimes veer into the world of dark fantasy and imagine that I am a HIT MAN busily “taking out” enemies real and imagined. Well, not really… 
But I’ve certainly fantasized about lighting it up in the NBA or passing for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in an NFL season.
The fact of the matter, however, is that there are plenty of otherwise “normal” Americans who fantasize about working in law enforcement, especially in the FBI or the Secret Service, to such a degree that they order more or less authenticate looking badges, rent office space in government buildings, and do everything they can to convince folks that they actually are law enforcement officials. I even represented one of these strange birds 5 or 6 years ago. The judge was amused but not so amused as to give the fellow probation (I believe he was sentenced to about 6 months in a Federal camp for impersonating a Federal officer).
In a new true crime story out of San Francisco, a 35-year-old licensed security guard named Jeffrey Bigai recently impersonated a San Francisco police officer for a completely nefarious purpose. Vivien Ho of SFGate writes:
A licensed security guard from San Francisco posed as a police officer in an effort to sexually assault recent Central American immigrants, authorities said Monday.
Jeffrey Bugai, 35, persuaded at least two men with limited English-speaking abilities to go to his home, police said. Once there, officials said, Bugai would drug or handcuff them or try to coerce them into performing sexual acts.
Bugai was not only nefarious but also diabolically clever. Investigators believe some of his victims have not come forward because he threatened them with deportation or police retaliation. Bugai was known to frequent the Mission and Ingleside districts of San Francisco as well as Oakland and Hayward.
Therefore, according to Officer Albie Esparza, a San Francisco police spokesman, there is no way at present to tell how many victims there might be or how long Bugai ran his scheme.
Bugai was arrested July 10 and has been charged him with two counts of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense and single counts of attempted forced sodomy, attempted forcible oral copulation and assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense.
The SF prosecutor’s office is taking this case very seriously, as well they should. Bugai pleaded not guilty at his July 15 arraignment and is being held on $2 million bail.
Not unexpectedly, Bugai has a history of impersonating people in positions of authority. Fifteen years ago, he was accused of wearing a white coat and posing as a health care worker in Traverse City, Mich. on at least three occasions.
Whether it was an attempt to filch drugs for himself or that he simply wanted to risk a patient’s life, in one instance, he allegedly recommended to a nurse that a patient’s pain medication be increased.
When apprehended, Bugai told reporters that he was just visiting friends at the medical center and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a health profession title, resulting in 90 days in county jail.
On a social media platform, Bugai explained he had no trouble becoming a security guard in California writing, “Fortunately no one out here takes (Traverse City) police reports seriously.”
What is frightening is the fact Bugai has been licensed in the state as a security guard since 2002 and has special permits allowing him to carry a gun and baton while on duty.
According to the state Department of Consumer Affairs, if Bugai is convicted, he will be stripped of his license immediately.
Apparently not content with spreading just one oo two lies, Bugai also claimed he had gotten a job with the San Francisco Housing Authority, but a spokeswoman at the agency, Rose Dennis, stated Monday that there is no record of his employment.
“I don’t believe he was ever a police officer. He may have had some security paraphernalia, but we don’t know if he was actually a security officer. He was never one of ours, never with San Francisco police.”
In addition to allegedly being a kind of stealth rapist, Bugai was the recipient of a civil restraining order in San Francisco in 2007. Always eager to even out the playing field, Bugai himself has sought restraining orders against three different men, including a roommate, since 2010.
Investigators are asking people with information to call San Francisco police at (415) 553-0123.
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I glad that this is being taken seriously and that Bugai’s bail is quite high. Imagine the fear his victims must have experienced as this ersatz cop sexually assaulted them. And then add to that the fear and frustration of being a victim and being afraid to go to the authorities because of fear of more “police misconduct” and/or possible deportation. But they’ve got him now and we can only hope that all of his victims find the courage to come forward.