Jan 31, 2008 6:37 pm US/Mountain
Police Impersonator Reportings Concern Officers
DENVER (CBS4) ―
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An image of a Denver Police Department undercover police car. Police say undercover police vehicles usually have more than one set of police lights.
CBS
Police in Denver are asking drivers to be on the lookout for a police impersonator.
There have been three reports in the past few weeks of a man posing as an officer, pulling over drivers and robbing them.
In Denver, the latest incident happened at 47th and Race. After pulling over a driver, the victim asked for identification. The person "went back to his car and took off at a high rate of speed," police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "Obviously he was an imposter."
On Sante Fe the impersonator pulled over two people and then took off with their wallets.
Another incident on Colorado Blvd. involved a woman who was stopped, handcuffed and put in the back of the suspect's car. When she returned to her car, she noticed money and other items were gone.
Officers like Steve Zippele say most people who get pulled over never question the policeman or policewoman about their identity.
"I don't know, maybe once a month people ask me for an ID card. It's surprising that people don't take that precaution as much as they ought to," Zippele said.
Police suggest asking officers to see a badge and a police officer ID card.
Most undercover police cars will also have multiple lights, so they suggest being wary of an apparent undercover police vehicle that only has one set.
Also, if a driver is ever in doubt that it's a legitimate officer pulling them over, they suggest driving to a safe location and calling dispatch to confirm the traffic stop.
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