PoliceLink

Ok here it is, this situation is getting more popular with the local idiots around the USA..

What would you do if you were pulled over by a person impersonating to be an officer????

I know a lot of PD's are only allowing marked units to do traffic stops not unmarked. That way if a citizen is stopped by an unmarked unit, he/she can call 911 and confirm the stop with a dispatcher

What would I, as a LEO, do? Pretend to comply with the "officer" and after the "stop", somehow, someway get behind the SOB and get a plate number while calling on the cell phone and follow him until the REAL police showed him how a traffic stop works.

BTW, in Indiana an officer that drives an unmarked; red and blue lights not in plain sight [lightbar], marking-Sheriff's star,police shield etc, MUST BE in a FULL uniform to make a traffic stop. However, there are emergency circumstances to this.

This is a loose translation of the exact wording, but you get the idea.   

mongo004 says ...

What would I, as a LEO, do? Pretend to comply with the "officer" and after the "stop", somehow, someway get behind the SOB and get a plate number while calling on the cell phone and follow him until the REAL police showed him how a traffic stop works.

BTW, in Indiana an officer that drives an unmarked; red and blue lights not in plain sight [lightbar], marking-Sheriff's star,police shield etc, MUST BE in a FULL uniform to make a traffic stop. However, there are emergency circumstances to this.

This is a loose translation of the exact wording, but you get the idea.   

What he said, unless I was stopped by a phony representing my department in my JD, then it would be ON.

As a LEO I would take an entirely different course of action than the average citizen. If the officer is clearly in a marked patrol car, consistent with your area you can probably rest assured he or she is the real deal.  If the officer attempts to stop you is driving an unmarked car or is not in uniform, you should acknowledge his presence but continue on to the nearest busy store.  You can call the police station and relay your concern during the stop.  Our agency requires us to have identification at all times, it would not be out of the way to ask for identification,especially if is is a street crimes type unit.  Keep in mind, that most officers, even those working in a "plainclothes" capacity, are going to wear something showing their status.    As others have said, keep in mind that if someone is impersonating an officer, they probably are armed.

If it turns out the "officer" if fake, the best thing to do is get a tag number.  We actually had an impersonator try to stop one of our guys who was off duty.  Surprise!

ODIN says ...

mongo004 says ...

What would I, as a LEO, do? Pretend to comply with the "officer" and after the "stop", somehow, someway get behind the SOB and get a plate number while calling on the cell phone and follow him until the REAL police showed him how a traffic stop works.

BTW, in Indiana an officer that drives an unmarked; red and blue lights not in plain sight [lightbar], marking-Sheriff's star,police shield etc, MUST BE in a FULL uniform to make a traffic stop. However, there are emergency circumstances to this.

This is a loose translation of the exact wording, but you get the idea.   

What he said, unless I was stopped by a phony representing my department in my JD, then it would be ON.

Me, too!

As Chimp said there are definetly a lot of factors in whether you would act on the spot or not.  If the chance presented itself sure I would attempt to turn the tables, but if not I would probably follow at a distance and retrieve his tag and notify whatever city I'm in and hope they get there fast enough.

We actually just had a case of this last night with three armed males, and after pulling the subject over they jacked him.

While I'm finding a place to pull over, call my dispatcher and give them the front plate to run and ask them to start a unit my way.....just in case.

Thats a good question... I have never really thought about it. I would have to agree with some of the others though. Depending on the circumstances comply with whatever seems reasonable at the time, because you dont know what kind of "whack job" you may be dealing with... I definitley would not get out of my car ..but would be calling 911 to verify that this is a legitimate officer...

In NY you do not have to pull over unless the car is marked.  If you are not sure of a marked or unmarked car, common sense would say get yourself to a populated area.  If the car is marked and you still aren't sure then don't be afraid to continue to a spot where you are comfortable pulling off the road.  There is no need to confront a "fake cop," you have no idea what this person may or may not have going on in their mind.  I have read some entries from some LEO's who would not mind the confrontation but there again is the other part of the problem in the US some people react before thinking when there is ample time, thats why we have problems with law enforcement today.

In Monroe County, no PD in an unmarked even if he/she is in uniform will pull a car over without a marked car. This has been policy for years and they have to put it out every once in awhile, when a POS tries to impersonate a cop. Many cops have told me over and over to never pull over for an unmarked herever I am without confirming it through 911. They say to just drive the speed limit, call 911, give my location, that I'm a female alone in the car and an unmarked is attemting to pull me over and I want to verify it is legit. Too many fakes are able to get ahold of uniforms for me to pull over for an unmarked if the person is in uniform, without me verifying through 911.