They will hide who they are for a variety of reasons, from catching speeders to infiltrating political groups to prevent the kidnappings of state governors. It is hard to recognize undercover cops, but there are some things that you can tell.
Your local police department probably doesn't advertise which cars they use for undercover work. I reached out to the LAPD to discuss with them, but they said they don't reveal any tactics information and that any information about how to spot incognito cops isn't going to be official.
There is a difference between plainclothes and undercover cops.
Undercover law enforcement agents and plainclothes law enforcement agents are not the same thing. Plainclothes cops are any that don't wear a traditional uniform and work in administrative roles. Any officer who is not out in public answering calls is covered. Even if they aren't advertising it, they are still police.
Undercover cops are hiding their police affiliation. They are often part of larger investigations that could involve infiltrating criminal organizations.
There is a distinction between marked and unmarked police vehicles. Any law enforcement vehicle that isn't marked with its department is the first. It could include everything from cars designed to enforce traffic laws with stealth, to cars that detectives drive while investigating crimes or picking up doughnuts. Even if they are subtle, these cars often have law enforcement markings on them. Even if you looked in the glovebox, you wouldn't find the car insurance and registration information that an undercover vehicle would have.
How to spot a police car.
There are 18,000 police agencies in the United States, and they use all kinds of vehicles, from Dodge Chargers meant to catch speeders to police semi-trucks in Florida, to public relations vehicles. There are some characteristics that might tip you off to a police car that is not marked.
The license plates have something on them.
Police cars that don't have marked tags don't have to indicate their status on their plates. Some states require registration stickers that they might not have. This can be different depending on the department. It won't matter when they pull you over.
The make and model.
It used to be easy to spot a police car that was not marked, but now police officers can drive anything from pick-up trucks to federal government subsidized mini-tanks. Police vehicles are the most popular in the United States and Canada.
The Chevrolet SUV is a 4WD vehicle.
The Dodge Charger Pursuit is a vehicle.
The Dodge Durango is new in 2021.
The 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility is based on the 2020 Ford Explorer.
The Ford F-150 is a police car.
The police are most likely to be driving around in these five kinds of cars.
Police equipment.
Police cars with extra gear are the same as unmarked police cars. That can mean lights on the grill or side-mirrors, dark tint on the windows, and a cage-like bumper over the front bumper. Technology has made these kind of array unnecessary for older cop cars.
It is hard to spot a police car.
Law-abiding citizens are unlikely to spot an undercover police car. These vehicles are chosen to fit in with the operation. They could be anything from high-priced cars to barely running beaters.
There is a way to spot an undercover cop.
The paper published by the Law Review states that police generally engage in undercover operations when they are investigating crimes that involve secret, complex, and consensual activities. The manufacturer of meth and dogfighting are some of the crimes. Depending on who you ask, cops may act as agents provocateurs in political demonstrations, or they may act as discreet protection in a situation where a uniform would cause anger.
There could be experienced and talented super-cops in deep cover, or there could be fake Hasidic Jews who weren't fooling anyone. There are many stories of cops attending protests. There are some tips for how to spot them.
There is a reason so many buddy-cop movies are based on partners who are opposites. If you see a couple of people who don't look like they should be together, it could be a sign of narcs in the ranks.
Awkward and out-of-place: A person who looks out of place at a heavy metal show could be a law enforcement officer. They could be an old man who likes loud music.
Keep your guard up when talking to strangers in a situation that could lead to an undercover cop. The new guy at the political meeting might be a cop if he starts asking when the bomb-throwing starts. Or he might be against throwing bombs. It is pretty murky.
How they look is something you can pay attention to. None of these outward signs are indicators of a cop-indicator, but they should cause you to put your guard up a bit.
Cops often have more strict grooming standards than the average person, so a short haircut could be a sign of police activity.
Cops like wearing sports-oriented hoodies to protests where hardcore protesters don't advertise their love of the Yankees through their clothing, according to some activists.
Cops need to carry a lot of equipment, and so often wear cargo pants with lots of pockets for nightsticks and tasers.
A cop would love to wear hiking boots or military-style shoes with a sports-themed jersey.
Trying to spot undercover cops is a problem.
The post is only for informational purposes. Even if you see a guy in a Challenger with a new haircut and cargo pants, he might be a normal suburban guy interested in radical politics or an off-duty cop. Cops might have none of the above qualities, but they look more like they belong than you do.
If you are engaged in anything that is illegal or politically controversial, there is a good chance someone around you is watching it and there is not much you can do about it. The best thing you can do is keep your nose clean, because the Undercover cops have a lot of freedom in what they can do, up to and including committing crimes themselves.
