PEARL, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Police officers have a dangerous job. Even during what some might consider a simple traffic stop, there are many unknown dangers for those wearing a badge.
"You never know exactly who you're stopping, what they've been doing. They could have just robbed a store back down the road and you not know it, and you stop the car and... Anything. It doesn't matter if it's day or night," said Pearl Police Chief Ben Schuler.
Police have to build a trust with those they're sworn to serve and protect. Impersonating a police officer is a misdemeanor, but pearl police chief ben Schuler says this type of crime can easily lead to others.
"Some of them could be simply extorting money. Some of them could be crimes against women, and other things like that. It gives the public an uncertainty about who is stopping them," added Chief Schuler.
Some might argue unmarked vehicles would eliminate the problem, but officers say it's not that easy.
"In law enforcement we have to have some unmarked vehicles. You know, different jobs that we do across the city in investigations, working narcotics, some of these operations where they might be trying to catch somebody breaking into a bunch of cars in a parking lot," Chief Schuler added.
It's easier than you might think to buy fake police materials. There's not an easy answer to solve the problem but Schuler has some ideas.
"I know that companies have to make money to survive, but I think a little stricter violation about where these lights went to. I think people being a little more cautious who they're selling them to for sure," Chief Schuler added.
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