By the time we are 16 and licensed to drive in Colorado, we become as conditioned as Ivan Pavlov’s dogs when we see flashing police lights along state roads and highways.
For most drivers, the effect is instant: foot goes off the accelerator no matter how fast or slow the car is going. Hands grip the wheel and drivers hold their breath waiting to see what happens.
Cops know we have this reaction to their familiar-looking cars and even more familiar red-and-blue flashing lights. One metro-area cop remembers a sticker inside his squad car that said, “The world’s most careful driver is in your rear-view mirror.”
Cops aren’t the only ones who know the psychological and visceral reaction created by flashing red-and-blue lights in the rear-view mirror. Robbers, rapists and a whole host of creeps impersonating police officers also depend on that reaction.
This week, Aurora police issued a warning to the public that a police impersonator had “pulled over” a female motorist last Friday afternoon on East Quincy Road near Reservoir Road. The woman saw flashing red-and-blue lights, and pulled into an auto supply store parking lot, assuming the cop was driving an unmarked police car. The man appeared to be a cop, wearing a dark-blue uniform, holstered gun and a portable radio. But when she asked him for a business card, he refused and told her she was free to go. She then called police.
While police impersonation in “unmarked” police cars isn’t a prolific problem, it’s a serious one, and there have been numerous recent incidents in the metro area during the past few months. Colorado, like so many states, have struggled with the problem, telling motorists to call 911 from a cell phone or ask cops for identification.
That’s not good enough and discounts the authority even fake police officers wield, especially on younger, timid motorists. While psychologists say the majority of these impersonators are people — almost always men — just thrilled by pretending to be a cop and wielding their power and influence, murderers, rapists and robbers like the ruse, too.
Since the 2003 murder of University of Northern Colorado student Lacy Miller by police impersonator Jason Clausen, it’s been illegal to own and use flashing red-and-blue police lights. Still, these encounters and some attacks continue to occur here and across the country.
The solution is simple: State lawmakers need to prohibit police from using unmarked police cars for traffic enforcement. They only reason police use the cars is to help keep traffic scofflaws evading speed limits and red lights long enough for cops inside the unmarked cars to catch motorists in the act. The use of the cars for traffic enforcement is dangerous itself, since many motorists are confused and flummoxed by the cars, creating traffic hazards themselves by not knowing what to do.
Police will never voluntarily quit using the cars for traffic enforcement, educating the public and ending the problem immediately. For the sake of the public, the ban on unmarked-car traffic enforcement needs to be statewide, and it needs to be heavily publicized.
There are no losers in creating such a ban. Police can ticket and patrol as much as the see fit, but only in full uniform and only in clearly marked police cars. The public is made safer knowing not to stop for these dangerous impostors, but to immediately report them to real police.
It will never happen….
good idea.
Nope-dumb idea, because the unmarked cars are used for regular patrol purposes as well. No way is an officer in an unmarked car that observes a traffic violation going to NOT conduct a traffic stop.
If we want your opinion we’ll beat it out of you.
Another Swing and a Miss by the Sentinel. I guess the need to grind out stories overrides the need to think issues through. Anyway, banning the (limited) use of unmarked cars for traffic enforcement will not “END” impersonators. I doubt it would even make a dent. First off not all unmarked vehicle stops are for traffic issues. Many Citizens will still stop because they won’t want to risk getting in trouble for evading. Not to mention that when a car pulls up behind you at night with blinding bright lights it’s just about impossible to see anything so you won’t know if it’s marked anyway. Lastly, impersonators are by nature high risk takers. If they have to “light up” several cars before someone stops they will.
Mr. Colorado, do you enjoy people being put in harm’s way, do you advocate this, fact of the matter is this, if you outlaw the use of unmarked cars and make it public information that unmarked cars are not police, it WILL cut down on this sort of crimes… Think before you speak, and stop trying to advocate for the criminals
I agree with those who already posted. We don’t need to restrict or hinder the police more than we do now. They are officers, and I have seen very few police officers who climb out of their car, that could be mistaken. Wearing badges, with name tag, weapons in holsters, shoulder radio, with microphone near mouth, flashlights, and all the other gear they carry show they really are officers. Just wearing dark clothing, not showing a badge, would be suspicious to anyone who is really alert, not texting, or doing their hair (he or she). In todays world too many expect police to be polite, calm, courteous, and above all be a lawyer, so they know what reaction will be in court. Just as call this week on my street, police showed up, with 2nd car within couple minutes, and they contacted dog warden over dog that attacked neighbors dog. No one would have any problem knowing they were really police. WE DON’T NEED MORE LAWS ON BOOKS. WE ACTUALLY NEED SOME TAKEN OFF, SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION. So many there now, they have to be opposing each other, making money for lawyers and tying up the courts. Best solution, arrest the dudes doing this – find out where they bought the red/blue lights only legal for police work, and go after them too. When seller and impersonator are both charged, this will stop across nation. And anyone called as jurist, convict these perps. “Don’t give the Kid another chance” as a jurist told me and others in last case where I served.
When they bust drug dealers and drug buyers does that stop the drug problem? Even when they bust people with illegal guns and the people who sold them does that stop the illegal gun problem? obviously that’s not the best solution, in fact its not a good solution. someone could build there own lights. And obviously they do arrest and prosecute people they catch buying and selling the illegal lights. Also your kinda right about not needing more laws, but we need less laws for citizens and more for police. you say we don’t need to restrict or hinder the police any more than we do now? Tell me how they are hindered or restricted now? They literally get away with unlawful murder! They can do what ever they want and the worst thing they get is suspended. The LA riots that happened in the 90’s was because rodney king was almost beat to death for no reason by the police and it was filmed and NOTHING happened to the police responsible. A 9 year old kid was shot to death for playing with a toy gun that wasn’t even the color of a real gun it was blue and orange by police and nothing happened to those police officers. but your telling me we don’t need to restrict them anymore than they already are? please back up your case and give me a good reason why we shouldn’t restrict them ALLOT more? And tell me how they are even redistricted now?
Rodney King was not a sunday school kid. He had been in trouble with the law many times before, but had the outstanding PC method of criminal these days. YELL, SCREAM POLICE ABUSE, AND RUN IN CIRCLES. WATCH ON TELEVISION. The media loves to talk of Trump having a big mouth. Well, now pay attention to those who are Leftist, and I will not name them. You watch and see who has the big mouths, that reach all the way from left ear to right ear, and is wide open. Cut in and over-ride anyone else on that station at the time, who is talking. Talk about your racists, bigots, who know and proclaim how the cops are murdering.
I have seen some police arrests in my neighborhood since 2000 to about a year ago, and watched police block both ends of my street at 2 AM in the morning with 7 police cars, dogs, and lot of flashing lights.
Because house across street, had been rented to nice talking black family of husband-wife-grandma-and child of about 7. When they moved in, the wife’s brother who had just been released from Alabama Prison for major felony sentences, came too with wife, and child or children. Never did know.
At 2 AM in morning the women and children went next door, to get help, security, and call police. 7 cars and dogs, because those two men and their buddies were chasing each other in front, side, back yards and in street with butcher knives, cursing and yelling. One big guy about 250-300 lbs, over 6 feet tall, wearing White Athletic cloths and white running shoes, ran and jumped the back fence, and ran west toward the moutains, through the residential area. Dogs barking along his path, and he was not caught up to and arrested until he was over 2 miles away, near now closed Wataburger store.
My wife moved to senior housing 4 miles away to share townhouse with our daughter right after that. Now what do the police do with those people. They are black, so have more benefits. Out on bond, but owner evicted them. Now where do you suppose they went? Any idea? And others like them moved in and after that we had the illegal aliens who came and occupied housing 2,3,4 families in one family houses.
All over this USA, houses were trashed and destroyed. Most sold at auction or by lenders through agents to fixer-uppers. Whole Denver Metropolitan area was sanctuary cities until 2006, when Gov. Owens enforce laws passed, went into effect 1 July 2006. Our smart voters promptly elected Ritter, and now Hickenlooper (Democrats) who ignored the 2006 laws, that had resulted in self deportations of illegal aliens ( 8 houses of 16 on my block went vacant during the night in the 6 months after 1 July 2006.
Promptly refilled those 8 houses with illegals, for next 4 to8 months, then set vacant and sold for around $80,000 to $90,000. Houses valued at $186,000 before that on market, which is the appraisal for county and state property taxes in Colorado.
SO SMART GUY, YOU DETAILED THE PROBLEM. NOW WHAT IS THE SOLUTION, WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION INVITES MORE ILLEGALS TO COME IN, AND VOTE DEMOCRATIC. I KNOW, THEY DON’T GET CITIZENSHIP, BUT THEY BUY IDENTIFICATION AT THE BORDER VENDORS, AND TAKE UP SOMEONE ELSE’S VOTING, BENEFITS, AND DRAIN ON OUR TREASURIES.
Just saw official report and those illegals are assisted by LEGAL citizens in USA, and one member of the illegal famiy gets benefits of some type. AND WE TAX AND SPEND. THEN BORROW, AND ALSO TAX AND SPEND SOME MORE. Four (4) trillion in paper money printed, in last 7 years, with no backing but TRUST behind it. National Debt doubled from 10 Trillion in last 6 years.
WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION?
Dumbest article I’ve read.