Police Search for Cop Impersonator

Barrington Police are investigating an incident where a man impersonating a police officer “pulled over” a teenage girl on Northwest Highway.

The incident happened March 21 at 9:30 p.m. on Route 14 at Hart Road.

The 17-year-old girl was driving along Route 14 when the impersonator pulled her over just west of the Foundry Shopping Center. She reported to police that he seemed very interested in personal questions like where she went to school and where she worked. He told the girl he pulled her over for speeding and asked for her driver’s license. When he gave it back to her, he asked the girl to get out of her car. She was suspicious at this point and refused. Several aspects of the incident raised red flags for the girl.

• The vehicle did not have a regular police light, just a single red light. There were no police markings on the doors of the vehicle.
• After stopping the girl, the impersonator turned off all of his vehicle’s lights including his headlights and the flashing red light.
• He seemed uncertain about what he was saying and paused often.
• He wore a dark colored shirt with a shiny badge on the left side of his chest. There were not any patches or other official insignias visible on his shirt. He wore no equipment like a uniformed offier would.

Barrington Police say she wasn’t assaulted or threatened.

The vehicle the impersonator drove is described as a dark blue or black four-door sedan. The man is described as being 5’11 and white. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist but was not muscular.

Barrington Police have several tips for dealing with incidents like this one:

• If being stopped by a police car that you are at all suspicious of, try to pull over in a public and well lit location. Turn on your hazard lights and slow down if you need to drive a short distance to that kind of location. The hazard lights will show police you are not trying to get away. 
• Most police in the area use red and blue emergency lights on fully marked police cars. Police using unmarked police cars with a single emergency light or in non‐police clothing rarely stop motorists. If they do, they should understand your concern as to their identity and be able to call a uniformed officer to the location to allay your fears.
• Lock your doors and roll down your window to talk with the officer. 
• Police will leave all their emergency lights on throughout a traffic stop. It helps with their safety and yours.                   
• Patrol officers will have uniforms with patches or flags on their shoulders, and equipment belts with holsters and radios. They will be more certain and specific in their discussions with motorists. If you are suspicious, ask that the officer call for a second officer or supervisor to show up.
• Call 911 if you have doubts. Dispatchers may need your location and license plate information. The dispatching center should be able to confirm whether a real police officer has stopped you.
• Police may make dozens of traffic stops each week. They should be certain in their discussions and interaction with you. If they seem uncertain or awkward you may be suspicious.
• If you are suspicious of an officer's real identity, let the officer know. Being in a public location exposes any imposter to witnesses or the real police seeing the incident. Impersonating a police officer is a felony in Illinois.