The Prairie du Chien Police Department has received word that someone may be stopping women while posing as a police officer in an unmarked police vehicle.

While the Prairie du Chien police, as well as the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol, use unmarked vehicles, they should be easy to identify. Even unmarked cars are equipped with a full array of emergency lighting, flashing headlights, and a siren.

If  a poorly-lit unmarked vehicle signals for  you to stop and you are concerned about it’s authenticity, here are some suggestions from Michael King, PdC Chief of Police:

• Signal your intention to stop and then drive to an open business or well-lit area before yielding.
• Open you window just enough to communicate, but keep all doors locked and windows up.
• If you are still not convinced, request the officer to have a marked patrol car drive by. If he refuses to grant your request, dial 911 immediately and summon help.

In the unlikely event that you are stopped by an impersonator and police are not summoned to the scene, please try to get a vehicle description and license number and notify police immediately after the event.