How to differentiate between real police officers and impersonators?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A news item caught my eye in The Gleaner of February 12, ‘Police probing robbery and assault of businessman by men dressed as cops’. The would-be ‘police’ robbed and beat the hapless, elderly contractor and took his licensed firearm. Thankfully, they spared his life, a mercy not usually extended to licensed firearm holders who are robbed.

In my travel around the country, I continually come across teams (usually two or more) of policemen, some on bikes, some in vehicles, patrolling and/or cruising about, conducting search operations, etc., all completely masked. Quite often, this is in broad daylight, on public, main thoroughfares. Sometimes, these masked officers are not dressed in uniform denim but in civilian clothes, covered by ‘police vests’.

I have always enquired (particularly of my law enforcement friends) whether this practice was lawful. Is there any Force Order prohibiting officers on open duty from wearing masks? Or even wearing masks with civilian clothes which is covered over by police vests? And if they are allowed to so wear masks publicly, what conditions justify this? I usually get a word stew of an answer when I get an answer at all. The obvious worrying issue is this; how does a citizen know if these ‘police’ (masked and uniform/masked and invests) are real police officers?

If an interaction with any of them goes awry, what recourse does the citizen have in even being able to identify the errant officer/s? Is his badge number (if or when even seen) sufficient? What if that is not ‘his/her’ real badge number, then what? Many citizens wonder if the commissioner of police is aware of such practices and/or whether this is the policy of the Force now generally or only in certain circumstances. Howsoever it may be, it is an issue that needs urgent clarity, especially in light of this recent robbery in Barbican. Wishing that unfortunate gentleman, a speedy and full recovery.

O’NEIL BROWN

Attorney-at-Law