“There have been circulating photos on social media showing these individuals, which have raised concern about their activities in our communities. We advise everyone to exercise caution and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, especially if the situation seems unusual or if identification is not clearly presented,” said Beardy’s and Okemasis.
Pretending to be a police officer is a crime and punishable by up to five years in prison.
Other than the location mark on the video, which is a video of another phone screen playing the video, there is no firm indication that it was recorded in Saskatchewan or even Canada.
Two of the three vehicles seen in the video have front license plates on the passenger side of the vehicle, something that is not standard in Canada and front plates are not required in Saskatchewan. The third vehicle has no front plate.
Police have not confirmed any reported kidnappings in Saskatchewan recently.
Meanwhile, Beardy’s and Okemasis have advised members to call police if anyone suspicious is passing themselves off as a police officer.
People are also advised to ask for official identification from anyone claiming to be a police officer and to avoid sharing personal information unless they are certain of the officer’s identity.
—
susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com