People are being pulled over and questioned by fake officers, according to reports.

Police departments across the state of Colorado are seeing an increase in police impersonators during the coronavirus outbreak and implementation of stay-at-home orders.

This is alarming news for communities already on edge and stressed to acclimate to the changes in daily life. We look to police as support and to provide a safe space, so when that's taken advantage of, it can be a scary situation. Several communities have seen instances of police impersonators using the stay-at-home order and COVID-19 outbreak as a reason to pull over and question drivers.

On March 25, a woman in Aurora was stopped by a dark-colored blue or black Crown Victoria equipped with emergency lights around midnight around Havana and East 6th Street. A man in a uniform came up to her car, asked why she was out and for her driver’s license, then after looking it over, gave it back to her and let her leave. The man wore no badge or name tags, and neither the Aurora Police Department nor the Denver Police has a record of any stops in the area at the time the woman was pulled over.

Then on March 27, residents in Greeley reported being stopped and directed to a roadblock on their early morning drive. Around 5 a.m., drivers were told they were in violation of a COVID-19 law before they were questioned by men dressed in reflective gear posing as law enforcement officers. Some were told they could receive a citation for violating the supposed law. These incidents were reported near the West end of Greeley.

On the same morning, drivers in Erie reported being stopped around 7 a.m. by a black vehicle with flashing lights. A woman was pulled over and approached by a male driver, who told her that she needed to return home under the stay-at-home order. The woman was then followed home by the vehicle.

The Aurora Police Department reminds people they will not stop drivers for the sole purpose of asking where they're going during the stay-at-home order. They also point out that all true officers will identify themselves, will have official government identification, wear patches on both shoulders, a nameplate, and a badge. They are working with both the Erie and Greeley Police about the reported impersonators to see if the cases have any connections.

If you get pulled over by someone that's questionable, it is advised that you put on your hazards and drive to the nearest police or fire station and call 911 to tell them what is happening. Dispatch can look to verify if a real officer is in the area and advise you on the next steps to take.

Please be safe out there and pay attention to what's going on when you are driving. Remember, law enforcement will NOT pull you over for the singular purpose of asking where you're going; always ask and look for identification, because real police officers always have it and will happily show it to you. 

Contact your local police department as soon as possible if this has happened to you or you have any information about any of the reported instances.