As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
![\"Badges](\"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/police-impersonator-03.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
One thing you will see are the blacked-out cars in black or dark gray with very subdued markings on them and internal emergency lights. These are typically used for traffic enforcement. My buddy calls them Revenue Pirates since their main purpose is running traffic. They tend to blend in and jump out to get you when you aren\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Other colors are possible but unusual. Police departments are traditional by nature and stick to classic colors. However, most will have \u201cPolice\u201d marked prominently somewhere on the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you will see are the blacked-out cars in black or dark gray with very subdued markings on them and internal emergency lights. These are typically used for traffic enforcement. My buddy calls them Revenue Pirates since their main purpose is running traffic. They tend to blend in and jump out to get you when you aren\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
It\u2019d be convenient if all departments used the classic black and white paint scheme but in reality, there are nearly as many paint schemes as there are police departments. Generally, though, if they aren\u2019t black and white, they tend to be blues, grays, or white with appropriate decals and logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other colors are possible but unusual. Police departments are traditional by nature and stick to classic colors. However, most will have \u201cPolice\u201d marked prominently somewhere on the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you will see are the blacked-out cars in black or dark gray with very subdued markings on them and internal emergency lights. These are typically used for traffic enforcement. My buddy calls them Revenue Pirates since their main purpose is running traffic. They tend to blend in and jump out to get you when you aren\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
It\u2019d be convenient if all departments used the classic black and white paint scheme but in reality, there are nearly as many paint schemes as there are police departments. Generally, though, if they aren\u2019t black and white, they tend to be blues, grays, or white with appropriate decals and logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other colors are possible but unusual. Police departments are traditional by nature and stick to classic colors. However, most will have \u201cPolice\u201d marked prominently somewhere on the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you will see are the blacked-out cars in black or dark gray with very subdued markings on them and internal emergency lights. These are typically used for traffic enforcement. My buddy calls them Revenue Pirates since their main purpose is running traffic. They tend to blend in and jump out to get you when you aren\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Once you identify the obvious stuff like lights and get a look at the overall vehicle, take a look at the paint scheme. Does it have a crest or badge on the door? Is it clearly marked with the name of the police department?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019d be convenient if all departments used the classic black and white paint scheme but in reality, there are nearly as many paint schemes as there are police departments. Generally, though, if they aren\u2019t black and white, they tend to be blues, grays, or white with appropriate decals and logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other colors are possible but unusual. Police departments are traditional by nature and stick to classic colors. However, most will have \u201cPolice\u201d marked prominently somewhere on the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you will see are the blacked-out cars in black or dark gray with very subdued markings on them and internal emergency lights. These are typically used for traffic enforcement. My buddy calls them Revenue Pirates since their main purpose is running traffic. They tend to blend in and jump out to get you when you aren\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you are pulled over, you\u2019ll be approached by the would-be officer. Pay attention to details about the approaching officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have questioned the legitimacy of an officer making a passenger-side approach, rather than a driver\u2019s side approach. That\u2019s a legitimate police tactic and real officers may do that for a variety of reasons. That one is not a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, watch the person in the mirror as they approach your vehicle. Are they in uniform? That\u2019s a big indicator right off. Many departments have policies against plainclothes officers conducting traffic stops. That isn\u2019t a 100% rule, but most traffic stops are going to be done by uniformed officers in marked cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the uniform, if they are wearing one. Does it match what you see on local officers? Are the patches for an agency appropriate for the area you are in? Or are the patches generic in nature and maybe only say \u201cPolice,\u201d with no mention of a specific department? Does the uniform have a name tape, and is the person wearing a badge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see the badge, what does it look like? Again, if you ever pay attention to local officers, does it look like what they wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police badges tend to be thick and solidly made. Does this match the make of the badge worn by the person stopping you or is it thin metal? Does it say what department the officer works for and include a badge number? Not all badges will have badge numbers, but they will include the department name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to those details if you can. Sometimes it\u2019s hard when you are seated in the car and the officer\u2014or impersonating officer\u2014approaches just to the rear edge of your driver\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might run into a police impersonator in settings other than a traffic stop but most of the same suggestions apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for the uniform details. If it\u2019s a supposed plainclothes officer or detective, ask to see the badge and ID and pay attention to the details. Ask for station info and request to meet or move the encounter there to speak further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as the situation isn\u2019t dangerous note the details and don\u2019t get confrontational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself dealing with a potential police impersonator, be a good witness and stay safe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"How to Spot a Police Impersonator and Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Con","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"police-impersonator","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-02-29 11:29:49","post_modified_gmt":"2024-02-29 16:29:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2022\/06\/15\/police-impersonator\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":4},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
Once you identify the obvious stuff like lights and get a look at the overall vehicle, take a look at the paint scheme. Does it have a crest or badge on the door? Is it clearly marked with the name of the police department?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019d be convenient if all departments used the classic black and white paint scheme but in reality, there are nearly as many paint schemes as there are police departments. Generally, though, if they aren\u2019t black and white, they tend to be blues, grays, or white with appropriate decals and logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other colors are possible but unusual. Police departments are traditional by nature and stick to classic colors. However, most will have \u201cPolice\u201d marked prominently somewhere on the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you will see are the blacked-out cars in black or dark gray with very subdued markings on them and internal emergency lights. These are typically used for traffic enforcement. My buddy calls them Revenue Pirates since their main purpose is running traffic. They tend to blend in and jump out to get you when you aren\u2019t looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know what to look for in real police cars, what about the fake police car?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As noted, off-brand cars are often a giveaway. However, many police departments sell off their old cars and just strip the decals and lights off. You may well see a Crown Vic with a pillar light that looks like a police style car, because it was. These surplus cars are popular with wanna-be cops and they will buy them to look more legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these cars often won\u2019t have lights, you do sometimes see new light bars installed, typical to volunteer fire or even construction vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, you should get to know your local light colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The old red and blue lights are most common, but some jurisdictions\/departments\/states do otherwise. For example, Ohio State Police use just blue lights, no red. However, in Pennsylvania straight blue is reserved for volunteer firefighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in Ohio, I\u2019d recommend stopping for straight blue lights. But if a blue light tries to pull you over in Pennsylvania, that\u2019s a big red flag. Likewise, solid red, or red and white, is generally used on marked fire or medic vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes these surplus cars may still have wig wag headlights that alternately flash back and forth. Or the fake police officer might have that installed himself. Generally, the presence of wig wag lights without other emergency lights is another indicator that something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, so what do you do if a car tries to pull you over and you aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing is, always be safe. Pull over in a well-lit area, preferably with other people around. If there is a known police station close by, go there. It is highly unlikely that a person impersonating law enforcement<\/a> is going to follow you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some other places to consider would be fire or medic garages, public buildings, retail locations, or places with cameras such as a bank parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t pull over somewhere safely right away, put your flashers on and drive the speed limit or under. If it\u2019s a genuine officer behind you, that will let them know that you\u2019ve acknowledged the stop and aren\u2019t fleeing from them or refusing to stop. Pull over as soon as you can do so safely and where you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
The Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Police Impersonator<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOff the Road Encounters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BROWSE BY BRAND
Identifying Marks<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Fake Police Car<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Traffic Stop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n