Eight 911 calls logged in Skagit County regarding suspected police impersonators
Washington State Patrol seeks details on unmarked vehicles in the region while clarifying that owning former police cars is legal.
By Lucas Collins ·
The Washington State Patrol issued a public warning on October 30 to alert drivers in the San Juan Islands and surrounding areas about suspected police impersonators. Although the agency has not recorded specific impersonation cases in Island County, it is actively gathering information about similar activity in nearby Skagit County.
The patrol received eight 911 calls between January 1 and October 21 regarding potential impostors in Skagit County. Trooper Kelsey Harding noted that investigators have not yet determined how many of these incidents involved actual impersonators versus legitimate unmarked police vehicles.
Dispatchers can verify the authenticity of a traffic stop if a driver calls 911 to question an officer's legitimacy. This verification process helps distinguish between real patrols and individuals attempting to pose as law enforcement on the roadway.
Investigators initially focused on a Ford Crown Victoria equipped with push bars. The agency later clarified that owning or driving a former police vehicle with such equipment is legal. The current focus is on individuals who actively present themselves as officers without proper authorization.
Residents on Whidbey Island who encounter a suspected impersonator should call 911. Individuals with information about incidents on state highways in Skagit County can email Trooper Ryan Thomas at ryan.thomas@wsp.wa.gov.
Source: South Whidbey Record
