Oneida County Drivers Warned of Men Posing as Police

The Oneida County Sheriff is warning drivers of two men posing as police officers after a woman was pulled over in Floyd.

Sheriff Robert Maciol says a woman was pulled over Monday, March 4 around 9:30 PM on East Floyd Road. She reported a white male around 30-40 years of age, wearing a gray police uniform and a purple tie approached her vehicle and asked for her drivers license. After about 10 minutes he again approached and told her to get out of the car. The woman says she then saw a second Hispanic male, around 20-30 years old, also dressed in a gray police uniform exit the vehicle. The woman was told her vehicle was going to be searched. After the Hispanic male searched the vehicle the woman was given her driver’s license back and told she was free to leave.

The woman described the vehicle that pulled her over as a dark colored Crown Victoria with a push bar and emergency lights located in the grill of the vehicle. "Through cooperation with surrounding police agencies this vehicle was unable to be identified as belonging to a local police department or the New York State Police."

Unmarked police cars do exist but Sheriff Maciol says there is some suspicion to them. "If an unmarked car flashes its lights or try’s to signal you to pull over and you are unsure if it is a legitimate law enforcement officer, there are a few things you can do."

*Wait until you get to a lighted or busy area like a gas station or business area to pull over
*Call 911 to let them know you are being followed by an unmarked police car and you plan on pulling over as soon as you can safely do so.
*Give the dispatcher the make, model and color of the car following you along with a license plate if possible.
*Try and signal you have acknowledged the request to stop and indicate the action you are taking, ie: put your flashers on or signal by pointing from the driver side window.
*Don’t drive off at a high rate of speed and make the police think you are trying to get away.
*Keep your doors locked until you are sure it is the police and have your cell phone at hand just in case.
*You can also ask to see police identification such as police ID which should include a name, photograph and police agency. You can except the ID through the mostly closed window until you are satisfied that it is fact a legitimate police officer.