Protect yourself from police pretenders

While driving down a dark street you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror. It’s definitely not a patrol car, and it doesn’t appear to be the typical model used as an unmarked police vehicle. You pull over to the side of the road.

A man gets out who is not wearing a uniform — so you have no clear indication that he is a police officer. You are understandably nervous and uncertain. What do you do?

The Nassau County Police Department is well aware of the uncertainty that drivers experience in situations involving unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers. Though department officials explain that uniformed officers in patrol cars typically handle traffic stops, they also say that other measures are used to combat dangerous activities and protect the public.

The June 1 arrest of a man suspected of impersonating a police officer at the Nassau University Medical Center was the 17th reported instance of this crime so far this year. Police say there were 20 reported incidents of police impersonation in 2009.

Authorities continue to seek a subject who posed as a cop in East Meadow and Baldwin on May 30. Driving a light-colored Mitsubishi Galant, the agitated man forced drivers to pull over — in Baldwin he actually crashed into a car to block the victim from getting out.

The subject, described as a white man in his 40s who was wearing regular clothes but had a badge around his neck, demanded that his victims hand over their licenses and registrations. He did not use flashing lights or sirens, but he did shine a flashlight at his East Meadow victim.

Both victims were commended by Nassau police for the way they reacted. In Baldwin, the 45-year-old victim managed to escape and call 911 from a nearby firehouse. In East Meadow, the 21-year-old driver backed up his car, fled from the impersonator and contacted the authorities.

Some of these criminals may be armed. In Inwood, a Far Rockaway man was arrested last week for pulling vehicles over in a Jeep with flashing red lights and then robbing them at gunpoint.

On the other hand, people have been known to pose as cops just to be given special treatment. In the case of the NUMC arrest on June 1, the suspect, a Riverhead man, was apprehended after he identified himself as a police officer on a number of occasions with the aim of receiving better care at the hospital.

To safeguard yourself from phonies on the road, the NCPD offers several tips for drivers who are stopped by unmarked vehicles:

Give a wave that you will pull over, then:

■ Switch on your four-way flashers and drive to a public area where there are people. At night, drive to a well-lit area.

■ Dial 911 while you’re looking for a safe place to stop. Be aware of your location so you can describe it to the operator.

If a plainclothes officer approaches your car window:

■ Lower it a few inches and ask for the officer’s shield and photo identification.

■ Do not search for your cell phone. The officer may believe you’re looking for a weapon. Instead, first tell him or her that you would like to use your phone to dial 911 and confirm that they are legitimate.

■ Ask the officer to summon a marked police car to your location because of your concern.

Officers are trained to display their shields and will produce identification upon request, police officials say.

Nassau County police do not condone ignoring an officer’s attempt to stop your vehicle. They suggest that you should not try to get out of your car until after a marked unit has arrived and proper identification has been established.

As for flashing lights, it is important to know which colors are police colors. Law enforcement lights are red, sometimes combined with blue. Volunteer firefighters use blue lights. Road workers and highway transportation vehicles have yellow lights, while volunteer ambulance service personnel use green lights.

Keep these tips in mind while on the road, and steer clear of potentially dangerous situations.