Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
May 14, 2021 - 3:25 PM
A police look-alike in Kamloops had its plates seized and was then towed from the local RCMP detachment.
The vehicle was outfitted with police-style equipment like lights and antennas, but the owner claimed he needed them for work purposes, according to an RCMP news release.
The owner brought his vehicle to the Kamloops RCMP detachment around 9:40 a.m., May 12, to discuss an order that required him to remove police-like modifications.
“It’s concerning to police and to the community whenever someone has outfitted a vehicle in a way that can be believed to be a police vehicle,” said Insp. Jeff Pelley, officer in charge of operations.
Because of the owner's claims that the modifications were needed for commercial purposes, Kamloops RCMP contacted Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement to inspect the vehicle.
After an inspection, a number of "deficiencies" were found, requiring it to be removed from the road and its licence plates seized.
This is not the first suspected police impersonation in the Thompson-Okanagan region.
On May 1, a man was arrested in Peachland after an off-duty officer saw a vehicle with what appeared to be police lights flashing in its grill. On March 24, a person claimed to have been pulled over by a police impersonator in Lumby, which RCMP later debunked and said they were legitimate officers.
“We are aware of other reports in the province involving police impersonators and would like to remind the public that equipping a vehicle or portraying yourself as a police officer with clothing or equipment will result in a formal investigation and potential charges being recommended under S. 130 of the Criminal Code," Insp. Pelley said.
Those charges could amount in up to five years in prison.
If you suspect someone may be using, or planning to use, real or replica police equipment, clothing or memorabilia to commit a crime, you can contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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