Police impersonation is the act of falsely portraying oneself as a member of thepolice for the purpose of deception.
Criminology research has developed a typology of police impersonators, categorizing offenders as (1) "police enthusiasts" (or "wannabe cops"); (2) compulsive deviants; and (3) common criminals seeking material gain through thefts and robberies committed throughvehicle pull-overs andhome invasions.[1]
A 2012 article in theAmerican Journal of Criminal Justice noted that "Distinguishing between real and phony officers can be difficult, and impersonators present themselves in numerous manners and commit a wide variety of crimes. Impersonators do more than just pretend to be a law enforcement officer. At times, impersonators engage in serious and wide ranging crimes includingrobbery,rape, andhomicide."[1] The same study found that "in general, police impersonators, depending on the type of offense, may be easily deterred. Invehicle pull-over cases, most impersonators fled when the targeted victim was on the phone with911 verifying the legitimacy of the stop. Additionally, potential victims who questioned the legitimacy of the stop and challenged the fake officer tended to avoid further victimization."[1]
The 2012 study examined 56 police impersonation episodes from May 2002 to February 2010 from three U.S. metropolitan areas, dealing with 63 offenders and 71 victims. The study found that these incidents "most often involve one victim (76%), one offender (91%), no witnesses (75%), no weapon (68%), and result in no injury to the victim (96%)."[1] The mean value of cash and property lost was $616.[1] Of police impersonation episodes, 45% occurred on a highway, roadway, or alley; 20% occurred in or near the victim's home (such as a fake "knock and talk"); and 34% occurred in some other place.[1] The study found that only 46% of police impersonation incidents were "cleared" (i.e., arrest made or resolved in some other way).[1]
Police impersonation has also facilitatedextortion andassault.[1] Police "wannabees" may drive cars equipped withpolice-style emergency lights, wearpolice uniforms, and carry fake police badges.[1] Somesexual predators have impersonated police to commitsexual abuse,harassment, and rape.[1][2] Impersonation involving police vehicle and uniforms has also been used byMexican drug cartels tosmuggle currency across theU.S.–Mexico border;[3] within Mexico,Gulf Cartel operatives have also posed as members of theMexican police andmilitary.[4]
In the United Kingdom, police impersonation "with intent to deceive" is criminalised by Section 90 of thePolice Act 1996.[5] The same section also restricts the sale of police uniforms and paraphernalia,[5] although illicit trade in items such aswarrant cards continues in the UK.[6]
Police impersonation has a long history. In 17th and 18th-centuryLondon, impostors presented to beconstables,Marshalsea, orsheriffs' officers to extort bribes or commit sex crimes.[7] Between 1685 and 1701, 29 men in London were caught assuming the identities of law officers.[8] In 18th-centuryQing China, thepolice, officials, andyamen runners were often vulnerable to impersonation.[9] There were almost 150 surviving recorded cases inNazi Germany of impersonations of its police, mostly the notoriousGestaposecret police. A study byRobert Gellately concluded that: "As the Gestapo and to some considerable extent also theKripo attained a reputation for ruthlessness, brutality and mystery, their powers and reputation not only deterred, but called forth amateur imitators. From the point-of-view of impostors, the Gestapo (and Kripo) had the additional advantage of being detectives operating mostly in civilian clothes."[10]
In Nigeria, impersonation ofNigeria Police Force officers remains a problem, inhibiting public confidence in police.[11]
During atwo-day rampage in Nova Scotia in April 2020, the perpetrator, who killed 22 people, posed as aRoyal Canadian Mounted Police officer and a drove a replica RCMP cruiser.[12]
There is a limited body of research concerning police impersonation.[1] Some scholars suggest that police impersonation may weaken public confidence in law enforcement and trust in authority, "particularly if victims believe that the event was a 'legitimate' police action undertaken by a corrupt cop."[1]
