ICE Warns of Fake Badges
Posted Jun 03, 2005
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New York seized over 1,300 high-quality counterfeit law enforcement badges. This announcement came on May 11, 2005. The badges are similar those used by different federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York Police Department.
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What to Ask the Investigating Officer?
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ICE would like to remind those living in the U.S. that badges alone are not sufficient to identify a member of a law enforcement agency. These officials also have credentials with photo identifications that should be shown to anyone they may be questioning. A member of the public who is approached by any law enforcement official may ask to see credentials with photo identification if these are not shown at the same time as a badge.
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What Else Should One Do During an Investigation?
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MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers are reminded that law enforcement officials generally should not ask for money from the persons they approach. Even a law enforcement official issuing a fine typically issues a citation that indicates the amount of the fine and the address to which the payment should be sent. It is important to confirm that the address on any citation is legitimate. Further, law enforcement officials typically will not ask persons who are in the U.S. unlawfully to commit crimes to either obtain legal status or avoid deportation.
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If one is unclear whether a law enforcement official is legitimately an officer, the individual who has been approached should try to make a determination by contacting the headquarters of the law enforcement agency or asking an attorney for assistance. If the situation allows no time to obtain telephone numbers, it may be possible to call 911, report the situation, and gain assistance from the local police.
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Federal agents should not take offense at being questioned regarding their authority and legitimacy, especially in light of this problem with false badges. Anyone involved in such an encounter must be polite and respectful when questioning the bona fides of an investigating officer, even when one is nervous or anxious.
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ICE Toll-Free Hotline
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ICE has a toll-free hotline, 1.866.DHS.2ICE (1.866. 347.2423), that is available for the public to report suspicions that someone is using or distributing counterfeit law enforcement badges. The announcement did not indicate how many of the false badges may have made their way into the hands of criminals.