Ya'll must not live 'round these parts...
If you ever lived in a rural / semi-rural area most people know each other. If not by name they've at least seen them around. A public position (particularly one with a uniform) like deputy, that would likely be what most people remember you as. The only point of burning the uniform; I suppose, is so the enemy couldn't identify you from miles away...
*remembers being identified miles above ground in a closed cockpit plane* ....
*shrugs* you got me there...
Yeah, I see where you're coming from. It makes a bit more sense now to me. I doubt he was the deputy around there, but judging from what people call you all the time, I guess you have a name there by default.
It would actually be nice to have some sort of disguise feature like you mentioned; I wish they might be able to implement that in a future update perhaps. I could be an interesting way to approach Far Cry 5!