False police officer arrested on Transmilenio impersonated lieutenant in Bogotá
A 19-year-old man was detained at San Victorino station whilst wearing clothing similar to official police uniform and claiming the rank of lieutenant.
19-year-old arrested at San Victorino for impersonating a police officer
A 19-year-old man was apprehended at San Victorino station in the Transmilenio system in central Bogotá after presenting himself as a lieutenant in the National Police whilst wearing attire similar to official police uniform. According to pulzo.com, the institution disclosed the case through its official X account, along with a video documenting the procedure.
The arrest occurred during search operations, identity verification and preventive patrolling carried out by officers from the Mass Transport Group. An auxiliary female employee alerted uniformed officers to the suspect, who claimed to belong to the Police ranks with the rank of officer.
Upon approaching him, the patrol officers verified that the man was wearing a coat and clothing items with finishes identical to those of the institutional uniform, which constitutes an alleged illegal use of uniforms and insignia. The accused voluntarily consented to a physical search at the moment the uniformed officers intercepted him within the mass transport system.
Following the inspection, the officers formalised his arrest immediately. The Police did not register any identity document supporting the rank the individual claimed to hold. The suspect, along with the items seized, was placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office for the commencement of corresponding judicial proceedings.
Spokespersons for the institution highlighted that units attached to mass transport have accumulated 1,498 arrests in flagrante delicto for various criminal conduct during the current financial year. The Police made an appeal to the public to report any situation that disrupts public order via the 123 line or by going to the nearest control post.
How to verify the identity of a police officer in Colombia
The authorities have reminded the public that identifying a genuine officer requires paying attention to specific details of the uniform, official identification card and elements of institutional equipment.
The first validation element is the police badge: it must be metallic, include the officer's identification number and match the official identity card presented. Uniforms also feature a QR code printed on the jacket or officer's badge, which any citizen can scan with a smartphone to access official information on the institution's digital platform. This screen displays the officer's full name, rank, assigned unit and active status.
Police officers on duty must also carry an institutional identity card with security hologram, recent photograph, full name and signature. In case of any doubt about the authenticity of personnel, the authorities recommend immediately requesting the presence of the police quadrant in the area or calling the emergency line 123, which allows real-time verification of the identity of patrols deployed in the sector.
Genuine officers, the Police emphasise, will never request cash, cheques or personal belongings on the street to exempt administrative or judicial sanctions, nor will they demand transfers to isolated locations without the presence of an officially identified vehicle bearing institutional numbering.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá