Hey Joe,
I'm following this Cox story and I have a question for you and anyone capable of answering. Ages ago when I lived near Baltimore, there was a similar story of a man who used a mock police car and would pull women over and rape them on desolate roadways. This always led me to wonder...... What is the best thing to do if you're being pulled over by an unmarked cruiser? If this guy really means it when he says he knows of other people impersonating officers with what looks like (to an untrained eye) genuine identification, what do we do if an unmarked vehicle attempts to pull us (as in smaller, unprotected women with children in the car) over?
Angela
Angela-
Thank you for writing. If someone driving an unmarked police car attempts to pull you over for any reason, before you yield to the "emergency vehicle" and pull over, please consider the following;
Is the driver of the vehicle in uniform?
Am I committing or did I just commit an obvious traffic violation?
Am I in a well-traveled area or a well-lighted area?
Does the Emergency vehicle have any blue lights?
If the driver of the vehicle is obviously in uniform, whether it's an MSP uniform or some type of police uniform, and the vehicle displays blue lights of any kind, and you're being stopped on a well traveled roadway, and you now realize that you were speeding or you're not wearing your seatbelt, it's likely a legitimate police officer.
However, if you are uncomfortable or uncertain, you can dial 911 and ascertain if the vehicle attempting to stop you is legitimate. You should activate your hazard lights and proceed to a well lit area if this occurs during the hours of darkness. This is not a free pass for male violators to disregard an emergency/police vehicle because they weren't sure it was a "cop".
Any sheriff's Deputy or Maryland State Trooper is required to produce an identification card and/or a badge while off-duty, and they must be armed while operating an off-duty vehicle. If you are stopped, identification must be produced by the Deputy/Trooper, and if they aren't in uniform, you may request the presence of a uniformed police officer or a supervisor to respond to the scene.
If you are stopped for a violation, Deputies should be documenting every traffic stop with a citation, warning or a safety equipment repair order. Each traffic stop is called in to dispatch and documented electronically in our CADS system.
Angela-If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to call or contact me via email.
Michael A. Lewis
Sheriff of Wicomico County
401 Naylor Mill Road
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 548-4892 (ext. 200)
(410) 548-3087 (fax)
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Can we request that a marked police car show up?
ReplyDeleteMata, YES, absolutely! In fact, I'd demand it. I heard this from Mike Lewis' mouth yesterday, so you are exactly correct, you can ask for a marked car to show up.
ReplyDeleteI have been told and seen it published in various articles around the country that if you feel you have no reason to be stopped, or if you feel uneasy about stopping, do the following:
ReplyDelete1. Put on your emergency flashers so the "officer" knows you acknowledge him/her.
2. Drive to the nearest law enforcement facility or fire station, and honk your horn so someone can come out to witness.
If the person attempting to stop is legit, he/she will not have any recourse against you. If not legit, the person will probably stop following you and take off. If this happens, REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY and give as much info as possible.
Joe, you might check this out with Mike Lewis to see if he agrees. Hope this helps save someone. It did me, once in another state.
this fellow, (cox) has definitly got something mis-wired in his head. thank goodness the officer arrested him befor this could of turned real bad. i think the thing to take away from this is first off, mr cox needs some sicological help, his self-esteem must be so low for him to have to create another being for himself. second we should learn that the people who serve the public in any capacity should be screened by the local law officials. its apparent that this is not being done through the fire department. i also feel that a complete investigation should be done<(by law agencys) as to why this was allowed to get to this point. those responsible for over-seeing this department should be held responsible, and diciplined if so needed.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Cox could have worn a uniform. He had the badge, lights, etc. I think susan rogers gave better advice the Lewis.
ReplyDelete" mike lewis for mayor"
ReplyDeleteHis reference to only the color blue was interesting to me... Blue ONLY is Fire Police in the State of Delaware. While I would certainly heed their direction for traffic direction/control, there is no way in the world I would feel comfortable stopping for blue lights only. That would be an obviously sign of something inappropriate in Delaware.
ReplyDeleteAndy / Dover, DE
I have put on my flashers and called 911 to verify. They were all fine with that!
ReplyDeleteI thank Mike Lewis for his response.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ms. Rogers though. The presence of a uniform is not a guarantee of authenticity.
It is better to be alive and embarrassed than compliant and dead.
Sadly, this is what society has come to.
And if I were a guy and suspicious about what was going on, with all due respect to Sheriff Lewis, I'd hit those hazard flashers and follow the instructions.
While I don't know of any episodes like this involving men, there are other circumstances where just being a man will not keep them safe. You moms of teenage sons know what I mean.
An SPD officer done this very thing Lewis explains on the evening of July fifth. The driver was subsequently arrested by a marked, on duty officer for DUI. Nice work, too bad this was not on a press release.
ReplyDelete