WHAT IF?
Many of you who are regular readers of RECOIL OFFGRID know the tactical landscape quite well by now. You could easily procure clothing and equipment of various contexts to persuade the uninformed that you have scepters of authority and special privileges. In fact, if you read “The Crimson Perception” in Issue 35, you’d have a working knowledge of how, combined with a convincing story, you could easily fool many into thinking your disguise was the real deal.
What if someone used this trickery for nefarious means and attempted to pull you over in what looked like an actual squad car or law enforcement motorcycle? Their badge and clothing might appear official. How would you know if it’s an actual police officer or an imposter? What are your rights to verify credentials or refuse to comply if you think your life’s in danger? How far can you go without being charged with resisting arrest if you’re wrong? In this edition of What If, we’ve asked attorney Jason Squires and former law enforcement officer Hana Bilodeau to weigh in on what your options are if you think you’re being spoofed.
The Scenario:
SITUATION TYPE
Confrontation with someone you suspect is impersonating a police officer
YOUR CREW
You
LOCATION
Your hometown
SEASON
Summer
WEATHER
Clear; high 98 degrees F, low 68 degrees F
The Setup: For years, the news has reported situations where people have been pulled over by individuals impersonating law enforcement officers. Sometimes it’s merely a self-righteous vigilante attempting to issue phony parking tickets. Unfortunately, there are other situations where someone has procured a car or motorcycle with lawenforcement-oriented features, badges, and duty gear, then confronted an individual under the pretense that they’ve committed a crime. In these rare situations, the imposter has often been a deranged individual using the guise of law enforcement to abduct, rob, or kill their unsuspecting victims.
After a Friday night out with friends, you’re driving home after midnight when you notice you’re being tailgated. You can see it’s a solid-color American sedan with dark paint, a visible push bar, and a spotlight on the A-pillar. You think you may have been slightly over the speed limit, but you haven’t been drinking, so you’re only mildly fearful that you’ve broken any laws. Suddenly, you see red/blue flashing lights flicker on inside the windshield and grille of the car behind you. You’re driving through an industrial section of town where there are no open businesses, foot traffic, or other vehicles
