An exploratory study of police impersonation crimes: Confrontational offenders and offenses

This research focuses on confrontational police impersonation crimes, which include the false impersonation of federal agents, official and state personnel, and local or national law enforcement. Extant research that examines police impersonators suggests that the extent of this crime is more widespread than commonly believed and is rarely researched. This study offers a broader perspective compared to previous research and examines different types of fraudulent acts. Data from identity fraud incidents reported in the news media were collected using the Google Alert system. News articles from February 2016 through May 2020 were coded employing content and thematic analyses. The results indicate that police impersonation crimes vary in type and motive. Finally, the discussion offers suggestions for future research, policies, and regulations.