CHARLOTTETOWN — A Prince Edward Island man reported to be impersonating a police officer over the weekend was, in fact, an off-duty RCMP constable.
Mounties said a woman was walking her dog on Saturday evening along Ferry Road near Pyes Lane in Cornwall, P.E.I., was approached by a man in a blue SUV, who claimed to be an RCMP officer.
“The man … asked the woman to get in his vehicle as he had some questions to ask her,” RCMP spokesperson Scott Ferris said in a statement.
“The woman refused to get into the vehicle, ran home and called 911.”
In an update issued on Monday, police confirmed the man was, in fact, an off-duty RCMP constable on the way home from his shift.
The constable saw the woman walking with her dog on a section of road that wasn’t well-lit, making her hard to see.
“The off-duty constable … was attempting to advise the woman she should be walking on the opposite side of the road facing traffic, as she could have been struck from behind by passing vehicles,” said Ferris.
“The woman could not see the constable’s uniform and departed the area before the constable could engage in further conversation.”
The RCMP has followed up with the woman who said she was thankful the officer was concerned for her safety.
Police remind the public they can ask to see identification in the form of a badge or photo ID from anyone claiming to be a police officer.
In an emergency, they can also call 911 and ask dispatchers to verify an officer’s identity.