Impersonators often buy uniforms, badges, utility belts, and vehicle accessories (e. g. , lights and decals). People can even impersonate officers by simply introducing themselves as someone with police authority.
However, dressing up in a police costume for fun, for example during Halloween or for acting purposes, is not prohibited by law.
Impersonators may or may not know about these rules, and therefore an impersonator may not knock and announce themselves as an officer. If someone in a police uniform knocks on your door and does not state their purpose for being there, do not open the door.
If the person at your door is an impersonator, once you open the door, the barrier between yourself and the impersonator will be gone. Once this happens, the impersonator can get inside where they may want to commit a crime.
The clothes themselves should be clean and unwrinkled. Uniforms with stains and uniforms that do not fit properly are good indications of a fake. Also, look for a hat, which is a requirement for police officers in many, but not all, areas. The uniform will always include a badge, name tag, and service tags. [8] X Research source The badge will be made out of metal and will never be plastic or flimsy. Service tags indicate the years of service an officer has had on the force. [9] X Research source Look for a utility belt with all of the tools of the trade. [10] X Research source These tools include a flashlight, firearm, handcuffs, taser, bullet magazines, and pepper spray. The utility belt itself is usually made of woven leather. All officers will carry a radio, so be sure the person you see has one. Try to identify the officer’s citation pad.
While an impersonator may be able to fake a badge, it is much more difficult to fake a photo ID and police identification card. If the person cannot show you these things, they may be impersonating an officer.
Real officers should never be upset if you choose to call the police to verify their identity. This verification process is easy and pain free for the officer, so they should be happy to let you make the phone call. If anyone asks that you not call the police, they may be impersonating an officer.
If you have to call the police, knowing where you are located will help you explain the situation to the dispatcher. If you are looking at the person’s vehicle, knowing where you are will help you identify the markings on the vehicle in order to ensure they match your location. For example, if you get pulled over in Los Angeles, you want to make sure you aren’t being pulled over by a New York police car.
Police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances all use different sounding sirens. Impersonators may not know this and may accidentally install the wrong siren.
If it looks older or is not running in good condition, it may not be a real police car. [18] X Research source Look for the reflective decals on the sides and the hood of the car. [19] X Research source These decals should clearly identify the vehicle as a police vehicle and should include car numbers, a police shield, and police department identifiers. Identify the warning lights on the police car. Most police cars are equipped with a number of lights that flash colors to warn people of their presence. Police lights are often red and blue. [20] X Research source Beware of single white lights or green and yellow lights behind the grill. [21] X Research source Read the officer’s license plate. Real police units utilize specialized license plates that identify the vehicle as a police vehicle.
If you do this, a police impersonator will often drive right by you because they will not want to risk getting caught.
If the person puling you over is an impersonator, you do not want to let them gain access to you or your vehicle, which is why you should not open your door or roll your window down all the way.
The clothes themselves should be clean and unwrinkled. Uniforms with stains and uniforms that do not fit properly are good indications of a fake. Also, look for a hat, which is a requirement for police officers. The uniform will always include a badge, name tag, and service tags. [29] X Research source The badge will be made out of metal and will never be plastic or flimsy. Service tags indicate the years of service an officer has had on the force. [30] X Research source Look for a utility belt with all of the tools of the trade. [31] X Research source These tools include a flashlight, firearm, handcuffs, taser, bullet magazines, and pepper spray. The utility belt itself is usually made of woven leather. All officers will carry a radio, so be sure the person you see has one. Try to identify the officer’s citation pad.
While an impersonator may be able to fake a badge, it is much more difficult to fake a photo ID and police identification card. If the person cannot show you these things, they may be impersonating an officer.
Real officers should never be upset if you choose to call the police to verify their identity. This verification process is easy and pain free for the officer, so they should be happy to let you make the phone call. If anyone asks that you not call the police, they may be impersonating an officer.
If the person you are talking to is unable to provide you with their credentials, you should cease talking to them and contact the police.
