Possible Police Impersonation Reported in South Windsor

The following is a press release.

The South Windsor Police received a report of a possible police impersonation incident that occurred on Dec. 31, 2012 at about 2:30 p.m.

A young woman reported that she was stopped on the Bissell Bridge area of I-291 by a Black Chevy Impala that displayed flashing red/blue lights behind the windshield, according to South Windsor Police.

The vehicle had no front license plate or markings, according to a press release. The alleged law enforcement officer approached her car and requested her license and registration. The woman described the person posing as an officer as a light-skinned black male, about 5' 10” tall, medium build, wearing dark jeans, a black shirt and black hooded sweatshirt. He had some type of badge on a chain around his neck and a handgun on his hip, according to the press release.

The woman said that the man asked a few questions and told her she was beautiful then gave her back her papers and returned to his car. The woman stated the suspect vehicle continued to follow her onto Route 5 and Sullivan Avenue. The woman reported the incident several hours later. There is no record of the woman’s registration or license being run by a police agency.  

Anyone with information about this incident is requested to contact the South Windsor Police at 860-644-2551.

Safety Tips regarding Police Impersonators

If you believe you are being pulled over by a person who may be impersonating a police officer:

• Put on your flashers, drive the speed limit and call 911 from your cell phone. Tell the 911 dispatcher that you are concerned. If you do not have a cell phone, drive to a well lit, busy area, such as the parking lot of a busy store.

• Do not stop your vehicle or get out of your vehicle until a dispatcher can confirm you are being pulled over by a legitimate police officer.

• If the dispatcher cannot confirm that you are being pulled over by a police officer, stay on the line with the dispatcher. Drive carefully to a safe place, such as a local police department.

• If you cannot dial 911, ask the plainclothes officer to have a uniformed officer in a marked car respond to your location before you surrender documentation, and ask for their photo identification.

• Report any suspicious incidents, such as the one above, immediately to the local police agency.