Did a real policeman pull you over?
Is It a Cop or a Creep With a Fake Badge?
compiled by Dave Barth, June 19, 2008
Did a real policeman pull you over?
There have been instances in some towns and cities where a person has been pulled over by a fake policeman driving
a car that looks like a police car and wearing a uniform that appears to be authentic. The purpose of this article
is to provide some hints on how you might be able to determine if the policeman is real, and what to do if you are
unsure.
Most US police cruisers are of the following models:
- Ford Crown Victoria sedan
- Chevy Impala sedan (some departments also use the smaller Malibu and the Lumina sedans as well, though the
majority in service today are Impalas)
- Chevy Tahoe SUV
- Dodge Charger
It is possible for the civilian version of one of these models to be "dressed up" to look like a police car.
The car can be repainted, small hubcaps put on, red and blue lights installed, and fake antennas applied. Actually,
most "fake" police cars only slightly resemble actual cop vehicles. More importantly, many police departments use
unmarked cars for enforcement work such as Mustangs, Camaros, and Corvettes.
You have a right to be suspicious when ever you are pulled over especially if you are woman and traveling alone.
If the car trying to pull you over isn't clearly marked as a police cruiser, you should slow down to show that
you recognize that you are being pulled over, but continue to drive slowly until you find a well-lit, public
place with other people around, such as a shopping mall parking lot. If you pull over immediately, keep your car
doors locked and open the driver's window enough to pass your driver's license and registration through.
When the "officer" approaches your car, get a good look at him and his credentials. If he is not in uniform,
be especailly cautious. Remember, it is very difficult for the average person to tell the difference between a
fake uniform and badge and authentic ones.
If you feel uncertain that the "officer" is really a policeman, you have the right to ask him to call anther officer to
the scene. This request is not unknown to real police personnel, and they will comply. In fact, many police departments
send more than one car to a scene for backup purposes. There have been cases of women being abducted and raped by
purpetrators impersonating police, and most departments are sensitive to people's concerns regarding the authenticity
of their personnel.
If the "officer" indicates that other officers on the force are too busy to provide backup or he acts unprofessionally,
tell him you will follow him to the nearest police station. If he balks at that suggestion and you have a cell phone,
call 911 and tell the operator that you have been pulled over by someone who
claims to be a police officer but that you are not certain that he is. Tell the operator where your car is parked
and stay on the line. If it's a real officer he will stay with you. If it's not authentic, he will almost certainly
get into his car and drive away. If you can, get the license number of his car so that you can report it and give
a description of the fake "officer."
In most cases, a backup car will arrive and you will be able to confirm that the police are real. But always be
careful.