It's difficult to spot undercover officers, but there are certain indicators
Officers and agents will conceal their identities for a variety of purposes, ranging from arresting speeders to infiltrating radical political parties to avoid state governor kidnappings. Undercover officers can be difficult to see, but there are certain indicators, so here's a general guide to identifying cops disguised as citizens and cop cars masquerading as normal automobiles.
Your local police agency most likely does not publicize the vehicles and disguises that they employ for covert or unmarked police activity. I contacted the LAPD to discuss, but they answered, "We do not reveal any tactical information and those queries come under that category," so any information regarding spotting incognito officers isn't going to be "official."
The distinction between "plainclothes" and "undercover" officers, as well as "unmarked" and "undercover" vehicles
Undercover law enforcement agents and plainclothes law enforcement agents are not the same thing. Plainclothes cops are those who do not wear a typical uniform, such as detectives, various types of investigators, and officers in administrative positions. This applies to any officer who is not out in public receiving calls. They aren't necessarily concealing their police position, even if they aren't precisely flaunting it.
Undercover officers, on the other hand, aggressively conceal their police affiliation. They are frequently part of wider investigations that may include infiltrating criminal groups or blending into a protest mob.
A comparable distinction exists between "unmarked" and "undercover" police vehicles. The first is any police enforcement vehicle that is not clearly identified with the department's name. It may include anything from automobiles meant to police traffic regulations invisibly to cars used by detectives to investigate crimes or pick up donuts. Even if they are inconspicuous, these automobiles frequently have clues that they are law enforcement vehicles. Even if you glanced in the glovebox of an undercover vehicle, you'd discover conventional auto insurance and registration information.
How to Recognize an Unmarked Police Car
There are approximately 18,000 police departments in the United States, and they use a wide range of vehicles for a variety of purposes, from Dodge Chargers used to catch speeders to police semi-trucks in Florida to public relations vehicles like this hot-pink breast cancer awareness Explorer my local 5-0 has been driving recently. So detecting an unmarked police car is a crapshoot, but there are few traits that may tip you off.
The vehicle license plates
Unmarked police cars may have municipal or exempt tags, but they are not required to display their status on their license plates. They may also be lacking the registration stickers required by some states. Depending on the department, this varies. It won't make a difference if they're going to pull you over regardless.
The brand and model
It used to be simpler to detect an unmarked police car—just check for the black Crown Victoria—but now, cops may be driving anything from pick-up trucks to federally financed mini-tanks. Nonetheless, the most common police vehicles in the United States and Canada are:
- Chevrolet Tahoe PPV 2021 (RWD and 4WD)
- Dodge Charger Pursuit 2021 (AWD and RWD)
- Dodge Durango Pursuit 2021
- Ford Police Interceptor Utility 2020 (based on the 2020 Ford Explorer)
- Ford F-150 Police Responder 2021
It's safe to assume that these five types of automobiles are the ones that cops are most likely to be driving about in unmarked vehicles.
Some police equipment
Unmarked police cars frequently carry the same added equipment as official police cars. Lights on the grill or side mirrors, dark tints on the windows, and a cage-like "push bumper" over the front bumper are all examples of this. Older patrol cars may also feature a slew of antennas, however technology has rendered such arrays obsolete.
Nowadays, it's difficult to identify an unmarked police car.
Aside from a bad undercover cop, law-abiding civilians are unlikely to notice an undercover police automobile. These vehicles are specially picked to fit with whatever operation is being done. They may be anything from high-priced supercars to rusted-out beaters.
How to Recognize an Undercover Cop
According to this Stanford Law Review piece, police often use undercover operations when investigating offenses involving "secretive, sophisticated, and consensual activity" such as meth manufacturing, bribery, and dogfighting. Cops also infiltrate political protests and groups, either to offer inconspicuous protection in situations where a uniform would elicit hostility or to operate as agent provocateurs, depending on who you ask.
Infiltrators of political events or groups may be seasoned and competent deep cover super cops, or they could be these phony Hasidic Jews who weren't fooling anybody. There have been several reports from activists of visible officers joining protests. Here are some hints on how to recognize them.
- Odd-couples: There's a reason why so many buddy-cop movies feature partners who are diametrically opposed—it happens. So, if you observe two people who don't seem to belong together, such as a large age or cultural gap, it might signal the presence of narcs in the ranks.
- Awkward and out-of-place: It's not foolproof, but a person who appears out of place—say, a crew-cut 40-year-old standing around at a heavy metal show—could be a law enforcement officer. (Alternatively, they could be an elderly gentleman who enjoys loud music.)
- Inappropriate questions: Be cautious when speaking with strangers in a situation where undercover cops may be present. If the new guy at the political gathering starts inquiring when the bomb-throwing begins, he may be a police. Alternatively, he might be discouraging bomb-throwing. It's a little hazy.
You may also take note of how they appear. None of these visible signals are a guaranteed cop-indicator, but they should raise your suspicions:
- Haircuts: Cops frequently have higher grooming standards than the general public, so a careful, short haircut could be a sign of undercover police.
- Sports hoodies: According to some activists, cops like wearing sports-themed hoodies to protests where hardcore protesters don't usually advertise their love of the Yankees through their clothing.
- Cops need to carry a lot of equipment, so they often wear cargo pants/shorts with lots of pockets for nightsticks and tasers.
- Shoes: Hiking boots or military-style shoes, especially when paired with the aforementioned sports-themed jersey, a look only an officer would liked.
The issue with spotting undercover cops
This post is strictly for informational purposes. Officer-spotting is an imprecise science with high stakes—even if you see a guy pull up to your demonstration in a 2021 Challenger with a new haircut and cargo trousers, he may be a typical suburban person interested in radical politics, or an off-duty cop hired by rally organizers to provide security. Conversely, because officers aren't (necessarily) fools, they may exhibit none of the aforementioned characteristics and appear more appropriate than you do.
If you're involved in something organized, illegal, or politically problematic, there's a strong possibility someone is watching you, and there's not much you can do about it. Undercover cops have a ludicrous amount of discretion in what they can do, up to and including committing crimes themselves, so the best you can do is keep your nose clean.
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SOURCE: lifehacker
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