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->'''Rick Castle:''' ''(to the ''New York Ledger'' over the phone)'' Yes, I would like vacation hold information on two of your subscribers, please. Who am I? I... ''(to Beckett)'' I sometimes forget I'm not actually a cop.\\
'''Detective Kate Beckett:''' I don't. ''(takes the phone)'' Hi, this is Detective Kate Beckett with the NYPD. I'd like to speak with your supervisor, please.
-->-- ''Series/Castle2009'', [[Recap/CastleS2E14TheThirdMan "The Third Man"]]

A wide variety of characters behave as if they are actual police officers and detectives or otherwise overstep their bounds, particularly the AmateurSleuth and technicians. These people tend to be hired consultants, lab techs, or other characters attached to the department, and are allowed to act as police because of their investigative skills that are usually some branch of science anywhere from psychology to forensics. Regardless of their job description, however, in reality they would not have power to arrest, interrogate, execute warrants, and so on.

Obviously, the real police tend to take a very dim view of this practice. However, as was once said of ''Franchise/StarTrek's'' habit of [[TheMainCharactersDoEverything sending the command staff into dangerous situations]], if you're paying for the stars, you damn well better use them.

!!!Related but different tropes:
* BavarianFireDrill: The character acts as though they have some authority that they don't, but never actually claims that they do. Anyone who does what they say to do is acting on their own assumption.
* CopsNeedTheVigilante: The cops are secretly allied to a vigilante who breaks the rules that they cannot. Unlike this trope, they don't have any official ties to the police.
* ImpersonatingAnOfficer: The character pretending to be an official dresses appropriately for the role they are claiming, and actually says that they are a police or other Law Enforcement official.
* TurnInYourBadge: Unrelated unless the character continues to investigate and act like a cop after losing the badge.
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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheBravados'': When the surviving outlaws cross the Rio Grande into Mexico, the {{Posse}} pursuing them has to stop. Jim Douglass merely notes that that he isn't a lawman and rides across the river after them.
* ''Film/{{Brick}}'' has this in two layers. The Vice-Principal has connections to the police. Brendan is the Vice-Principal's rogue AmateurSleuth (though more because Brendan needs his connections than any actual like of each other). Both of them act as though they have every right to do what law enforcement does, though Brendan takes things significantly further than any rational person should, up to and including going undercover in a drug ring and then assuming the Vice-Principal will cover his absences in class so he doesn't have to deal with consequences for his actions.
* ''Film/CrookedHouse'': Because Charles is a private investigator hired by a member of the family, he can go places that the police can't; a fact that Detective Chief Inspector Taverner takes advantage of.
* ''Film/TheThomasCrownAffair1999'': Catherine is working on behalf of the insurance agency responsible for the stolen painting, essentially a property bounty hunter. However, she behaves as if she's a sworn police officer, being allowed to interrogate suspects, but also performs actions that range from the stupid (informing Thomas Crown that he's the primary suspect, then later sleeping with him), to the outright illegal (copying Crown's keys so she can break into his mansion). She does get called out on some of her actions by Detective [=McCann=], but nothing really comes of it.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': Ex-police officer (and current private investigator) Eddie Valiant is brought along to the Acme Factory crime scene by his friend Lieutenant Santino. While there he tries to steal a piece of evidence: the joy buzzer in Marvin Acme's hand. He's caught red-handed by Judge Doom but Santino explains away his action by saying that Valiant was just getting the item for Doom.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'': Dirk does this as part of the workings of his Holistic Detective Agency when he has a mystery that actually interests him rather than one that involves tricking old ladies into letting their cats loose. The local inspector Sergeant Gilks takes a rather dim view of this... along with Dirk's tendencies to be involved in highly peculiar situations that Gilks does not like very much in the first place, as well as his habits of removing or obscuring evidence...
* ''Literature/MenAtArms'' offers the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' example of Corporal Carrot Ironfoundersson, who in the absence of Captain Vimes assumes command not only of the night watch, but also the whole City Watch and an increasingly large and well-armed Citizens' Militia. He does this by force of personality and the (unspoken) fact that he is the heir to the throne of Ankh-Morpork. Effectively he is assuming a police rank he has no official title to, but he is only called out twice: once when Sergeant Fred Colon attempts to re-assert ''his'' superior rank (but Fred bows to the inevitable and ends up calling Carrot "sir" and taking his orders -- at least partly because he quickly decides that whatever's happening, he does ''not'' want to be held responsible for it). A second attempt is made by the soon-to-be-disgraced Captain Quirke, but Carrot deals directly with this. The next morning, even Lord Vetinari is certain Carrot is out to usurp ''his'' rank too...
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' Harry Dresden occasionally tries to use his Police Consultant ID badge as a police badge, to varying degrees of effectiveness. Murphy, his police officer friend, gets pissed when he does so, pointing out that it's against the law.
* The ''Literature/{{Howdunit}}'' series is a collection of books meant to help writers write police and crime material more realistically. In ''Literature/PrivateEyesAWritersGuideToPrivateInvestigating'', the authors are ''very'' explicit that private detectives and investigators have no more power than the average citizen, and pretending to be a cop ''is a crime''. Their advantage comes from them being able to chase a lead down -with preferably legal civilian methods- and concentrate on a single case as long as they are being paid for it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ZigZagged in ''Series/{{Astrid}}''. Astrid Nielsen is an autistic AmateurSleuth whose day job is handling documents at the Criminal Records building, but, partnered with Judicial Police Commander Raphaëlle Coste, regularly examines crime scenes and corpses and sometimes even interviews witnesses (though this is rare because her challenges with social cues make this difficult). Up until the season 2 finale, this is largely let slide because she's so helpful, but then her attempt to [[ClearTheirName clear the name of an innocent woman]] turns into a HostageSituation that [[spoiler:ends with Raph getting shot in the shoulder trying to protect the real killer from the hostage-taker]], leading to Astrid getting banned from taking part in any further investigations. However, in the season 3 premiere, she manages to impress the Prefect of Police when she helps resolve a murder case that turned political. The Prefect overturns her firing, but only on condition that Astrid attend and pass police academy within the year. [[spoiler:She does, almost by accident, because she walked out of the oral exam after having an EurekaMoment in the Case of the Week, but [[BunnyEarsLawyer her willingness to prioritize solving the case over keeping her job impressed the examiners and they passed her]], and is given the rank of lieutenant in the judicial police, ending the show's use of the trope altogether.]]
* In the ''Series/BlueBloods'' episode "The Uniform", Danny Reagan's Case of the Week involves an NYPD Auxiliary Officer[[note]]a volunteer reserve police force which is a subdivision of the NYPD Patrol Services Bureau[[/note]] who shot a guy trying to rob his uncle's diner. The auxiliary in question brought along his own gun, in violation of Auxiliary Police policy[[note]]Auxiliary officers in New York City are not permitted to carry a sidearm at any time on duty, even if they are independently licensed to carry a firearm, like this guy was. In other jurisdictions within New York State, some police departments do allow their Auxiliary Police officers to carry a firearm.[[/note]]. It was eventually ruled a good and justified shooting, and the auxiliary even got into the police academy later on.
* ''Series/{{Bones}}'':
** Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who studies the bones of human remains. She works with FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth to work on cases which require her expertise, and frequently helps interview witnesses and conduct interrogations. In the pilot she even went to arrest the murderer by herself, kneecapping him in the process. (The show admitted this was technically assault with a deadly weapon and she was chewed out both for the crime and general foolhardiness, but no charges were filed.) In her case, they at least explain that her main condition for assisting the FBI is that she be allowed to do the fieldwork not just stay in the lab (because the human side fascinates her even if she doesn't understand it). The other "squints" don't get nearly as much leeway as her, as Booth is always quick to remind them of the boundaries if they get overzealous.
** A VictimOfTheWeek was a data analyst for the CIA. When his superiors refuse to investigate a possible diamond smuggling operation he discovers, he investigates it himself despite having no field experience, training, or authority. [[spoiler:He ends up getting a star on [[TheDeadHaveNames the CIA memorial wall]], an honor normally reserved for operatives, for losing his life and [[TortureIsIneffective resisting torture]] when he was captured by the enemy.]]
* ''Series/Castle2009'':
** Although merely a shadowing writer, Richard Castle has been given a lot of responsibility within the unit, including questioning witnesses and examining evidence and crime scenes (albeit always with Beckett observing him). Lampshaded in one episode where he excitedly calls a newspaper to acquire confidential information after a brainwave, only to stop when they ask him who he is and hand the phone over to Beckett, sheepishly admitting that "I sometimes forget I'm not actually a cop."
** At one point, Castle is no longer permitted to shadow the NYPD, so he gets licensed as a private investigator, assuming this will allow a return to the status quo. Beckett has to gently break it to him that, no, [=PIs=] don't get to investigate crime scenes alongside cops, they don't get to hang out at the station, they don't get to interrogate suspects, they don't get access to information on open cases. If he's serious about doing this, he has to do it on his own following an entirely different set of rules than what he's used to.
* In ''Series/TheCoroner'', Jane (the eponymous coroner) tends to take a far more active role in investigations than she really should, with Davey sometimes having to remind her that she is not a cop. Of course, she sometimes takes advantage of the fact that she isn't a cop to get witnesses and suspects to reveal things they would never tell the police.
* ''Series/CSIVerse'':
** The original ''Series/{{CSI}}'' gets {{Flanderiz|ation}}ed into this in parodies but it's not as prevalent as it's made out to be. While the [=CSIs=] tend to do things that the police officers would be the ones to do in real life (like interviewing suspects or capturing them, though the latter tends to happen only when someone they plan to just speak to runs away), Grissom often reminds civilians he isn't a cop, and at one point was told to leave the scene by Brass when it became apparent that a suspect was still there.
** Averted for the most part in the spinoffs, as the characters actually ''are'' full-fledged cops. However one ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' episode had Mac do a technical one of these when he follows his stalker to Chicago, and tries to throw his badge to get into the Tribune building. The Chicago Police Department had to remind him that badges only work in their jurisdiction and he had no power in Chicago.
* In ''Series/DaVincisInquest'' Da Vinci, being the coroner, is often the first person allowed at a crime scene, and gains special civilian privileges that allow him to access areas the police can't.
* ''Series/DueSouth'': Benton ''is'' a police officer in ''Canada'', but the show is set in Chicago. He does frequently remind people that he is acting purely as a private citizen, but acts as if he does have police powers.
* ''Series/{{Forever|2014}}'':
** Dr. Henry Morgan, a medical examiner, isn't a cop, has no badge, and has little authority outside the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, but he nevertheless accompanies Jo to interview (potentially dangerous) witnesses and when doing things like searching Grand Central for a potential mass murderer. Occasionally justified by having an antique of some sort involved, as Henry is also part-owner of an antiques store (and [[Really700YearsOld 235 years old]]) and can serve as an expert in the field.
** Lieutenant Reece ''encourages'' Henry to visit a club owned by a suspect her detectives are barred from approaching in "Punk Is Dead," pointedly explaining she has no authority over someone who works for the OCME; again in "The Night In Question" she tells Jo that no one with a badge is allowed to interview a suspect, then when Henry agrees she tells him firmly she wasn't talking to him, and Jo jerks her head towards the interview room to encourage Henry to go in.
%%* The guys on ''Series/{{Hustle}}'' do this with some regularity, as does the team on ''Series/{{Leverage}}''. '''ZERO CONTEXT EXAMPLE'''
* In ''Series/TheListener'', Toby is a consultant for the IIB because of his mind reading powers. As a consultant, he's at the IIB's beck and call, but sometimes it seems like he is just another law enforcement officer: he often directs other police officers, executes warrants, leads interrogations, etc. This is lampshaded and rectified in the final season when Toby is made a full time IIB agent and is certified to carry a gun. On the other hand, the IIB is really just a Joint Task Force rather than a fully independent police agency and thus derives its powers from those of the participating police forces ie. the agents have arrest powers specifically because they are full time members of their respective police forces and are on special assignment with the IIB. Toby would have to join one of this police forces (most likely the RCMP) in order to be authorized to execute police powers.
* The titular ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'' tags along with the police as a "consultant". Since he actually is TheDevil, he is able to use his powers of persuasion to get away with almost anything, despite being given no authority to act as a police officer at all.
* ''Series/MayorOfKingstown'': Mike is a go-between for the gangs, police and prison guards in Kingstown. He is not a police officer, although he is friends with a lot of them and one of his brothers is a detective with the Kingstown PD. Because of this, he regularly trades favors with his friends on the force. The commissioner is not a fan of a civilian like Mike being so involved in their activities, but he recognizes his usefulness so tells his lieutenants to file him as an informant so he can at least explain why this guy shows up at so many crime scenes. One of the few times where this becomes a problem is when a rookie officer refuses to let Mike past the police tape. Mike is sensible enough not to make a big deal about it and just calls one of the detectives on the scene to come get him.
* Patrick Jane of ''Series/TheMentalist'' will usually inform people that he is merely a consultant and not an actual police officer. However, when he deems it necessary he has no qualms about letting people think that he is a full CBI agent.
* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'':
** One episode has Barnaby be removed from a case because his wife is tangentially connected to it. His replacement being a perfectly intolerable little dipstick, Barnaby gets to the witnesses first without mentioning he's not on the case.
** In "[[Recap/MidsomerMurdersS10E6 Picture of Innocence]]", Barnaby is removed because he himself is connected to the case by an attempted FrameUp. Once again his replacement is intolerable (and seemingly preoccupied with planning his wedding) so Barnaby proceeds to get to all the witnesses two steps ahead of the other inspector.
* ''Series/NewTricks'' averts this. Brian, Jack and Gerry are retired police officers and are usually pretty good at identifying themselves as such. However, they do work for the police department as investigators so they have the official authority to question people and access police records. They do ''not'', however, have powers of arrest; when Ted detains a suspect in one episode to prevent her from avoiding their questioning, he pays for it later.
* Shawn Spencer from ''Series/{{Psych}}'' will often tell people he's "The Head Psychic for the SBPD" as if he's an actual officer, when he's actually a consultant/hired-on PrivateDetective. Doesn't stop him from investigating everything and everyone vaguely connected to a high profile or interesting case, even cases he hasn't actually been hired for it. DaChief puts up with it because he gets results. It's to the point cops from other jurisdictions have assumed ''Shawn'' is the boss and Detective Lassiter is supposed to answer to ''him'', rather than the other way around (though in a comedic twist, sometimes that's because Shawn ''told'' them as much).
* {{Subverted}} in the second episode of ''Series/{{Quantico}}''. After washing out of the FBIAgent training program Caleb comes back as an analyst trainee. He tries to follow his former classmates to a simulated bust, but is sent back to his seat by the instructors because analysts stay in the office.
* Dr. Quincy from ''Series/QuincyME'' was a medical examiner who took an [[TheMainCharactersDoEverything unrealistically active]] role in investigating deaths. Within the first season alone, he interviews witnesses and suspects (in the pilot he follows a lead to Mexico!), chases and captures crooks, locks down a hotel to investigate a possible epidemic, and conducts examinations of witnesses in coroner's court. Quincy's [[DaChief supervisor]] and the actual cops frequently remind him that he isn't a policeman, but of course if he listened we wouldn't have a show.
* In ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', though they ''do'' have authorization to be at crime scenes under the {{Masquerade}} of "special ops", and one of their group ''is'' a trained police officer, the rest of Torchwood Three consist of a pathologist, a computer expert/hacker, and...[[WhatExactlyIsHisJob the guy who gets everywhere to work on time and looks good in a suit]]. In one episode, [[spoiler:Jack has to call the police, who are not happy with this arrangement, for help when everyone but Gwen winds up locked in the base with no power; the officer who takes the call puts it on speaker and calls the entire station over to mock them]].
* The unaired ''Series/WonderWoman2011Pilot'' had a particularly bizarre version of this. Wonder Woman appears to be completely above the law, while at the same time her actions have legal consequences. This allows her to torture information out of a suspect in police custody to find a secret lab. The police can't use that information because it was retrieved through torture, but Wonder Woman herself faces no consequences for torturing a man. Then she breaks into that lab. The police can then come investigate because it's now a crime scene, but again Wonder Woman is completely off the hook for committing those crimes.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'': Phoenix does this constantly, and often ''[[KleptomaniacHero swipes evidence]]'' from the scene of the crime, and gets info out of the police. Justified in that, the in-universe laws allow for this, and Phoenix often has to prove that he's connected to the case as a lawyer by showing his attorney badge.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', Spongebob is made a hall monitor by Mrs. Puff. He then thinks that he can use the authority to help people outside of his boating school, so he goes to the Bikini Bottom city and finds that the traffic light's broken. Then he steps up as a traffic police and helps the boats cross the crossroads in his usual haphazard fashion. Nothing seems to be bad, until he goes off and it's revealed to the audience (unbeknownst to him) that those cars he helped are piling up in a giant crash. He's then wanted by the police for this. To compound this, [=SpongeBob=] deputizes Patrick, who puts on an ice-cream cone in lieu of an uniform. When the real police arrive, Patrick calls them "brothers" and points at the cone as if they would instantly know what it means.
[[/folder]]
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