Experts: Beware of Phony Cops
March 21, 2006 — -- While the parents of 23-year-old nursing student Sarah Whitlock watched as her ashes were scattered at sea Sunday, investigators honed in on the young man who they say killed her.
Jacksonville police say 17-year-old Kimothy Simmons lied to Whitlock, initially telling her he was a police recruit, to gain entrance to her apartment, where he stabbed her.
Investigators say a police cap that read "Narcotics Officer" was found at the crime scene, and they say he was caught on videotape shoplifting a T-shirt that said "POLICE."
After Whitlock's slaying, police delivered what has become a familiar warning: "Do not allow entry to your residence by anyone claiming to be a plainclothes law enforcement officer of any kind, without … two forms of ID," said Rick Graham of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Fake Badges, Uniforms for Sale Online
There are no solid statistics about the number of crimes committed by people impersonating police officers, but Mary Ann Viverette, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, says it's an all-too-common problem across the country.
It is frighteningly simple to find items such as patrol lights, phony badges and uniforms for sale online. Police say many of the most horrifying cases involve women, who are targeted by fake cops while driving on isolated roads and are often sexually assaulted.
That is what happened to Lacy Cohen, who was abducted and murdered in Fort Collins, Colo., by a police impostor who pulled her over using flashing lights.
"If he didn't flash his lights, she would still be alive," said Lacy's mother, Wendy Cohen, who is pushing for tougher laws to punish impersonators.
More than a year ago, Heather Southerland, 24, was pulled over in Leesville, La., by a man in a green Ford Bronco. After she turned onto a deserted side street, the man got out of his car and said "Leesville Police Department, undercover narcotics, step out of the car," she said.
He ordered her to walk backward toward him and put her hands on the trunk of her vehicle. Southerland asked to see his badge, and he refused. He flashed a knife and raped her in the secluded, wooded area.
After she went to the hospital and reported the rape, she saw the Bronco in a diner parking lot while being driven in a real police car. The police checked the car, which was registered to Chad Elliott, whom they later linked to an earlier rape committed by an alleged police officer.
"He would have killed somebody," Southerland said. "There is not a doubt in my mind that he wouldn't have taken it to the next level."
Elliott was sentenced to 90 years in prison for raping Southerland and two other women. Southerland testified against him.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Police Chief Mary Ann Viverette says that the best protection against impostors is greater wariness -- even if there are flashing lights in your rearview mirror.
Viverette said you could no longer just trust a badge because they're so easy to buy online. She also said that nearly all police officers were aware of the dangers fake cops posed, and would generally not be offended if you asked for proof of their identity, especially if they are in plainclothes or undercover.
She offered these tips for protecting yourself:
If you are unsure about whether or not someone really is a cop, call 911 or request that another uniformed officer be called.
If you are on a deserted road and you are pulled over, turn on the inside lights and let the person know you see him or her. Put on your flashers, but indicate you intend to drive to a public place -- a business, or better yet, a police station or firehouse.
When you stop, don't roll down your window and don't unlock your door. Call 911 and ask whether anyone has reported pulling over a car with your license plate.
For more information on Lacy Miller's foundation, visit 2hearts4lacy.org.