Phoenix whacker

[VGSMC_8520]

I was westbound on Osborn Ave at 7th Ave in Phoenix today at noon, and I saw a guy in a black or dark brown uniform "directing" traffic. I was a few cars back and didn't have a clear view, but I'm not sure why he was doing that. The traffic lights were functioning normally, I couldn't see any construction or accident, and I don't think there was any sort of funeral procession going on. Now here's the weird part - an ADOT enforcement truck pulled up to the intersection, and the guy directing traffic stopped suddenly, runs to his car and speeds away, lights and siren going. Being a car guy, I could see clearly from my distance that he was driving a black later model Mercury Grand Marquis, with some sort of star emblem, similar to to Maricopa County Sheriff, but no other markings identifying the vehicle or agency. The Grand Marquis had a siren, strobe lights in the rear window and tail lights, spotlights on the pillars, but no lightbar. The ADOT officer did nothing, just waiting for a few mins for the light to cycle and went the same direction as the alleged whacker, but I'm not sure what happened after that. What the heck did I just witness? Has anyone seen any public safety agency drive a Grand Marquis? I know these weirdos pop up every once in a while and like to play police, but has anyone seen such a vehicle on the streets in the valley?

 

[KB7MIB]

Not this vehicle, but there's a guy in West Phoenix/Glendale who drives a Crown Vic with "Bail Enforcement" markings. AKA a bounty hunter.
I wouldn't necessarily call him a whacker, but you'd think bounty hunters would want to keep a low profile, not drive around in fully marked vehicles.

John
Peoria

 

[SCPD]

Let him get his felony and impersonation charge. Another one adding to the E reason. I don't know why those folks find it amusing. Any one else gets off a actual job you don't want to hear a radio or anything to do with it. You sure it wasn't one of the seized in a drug operation car and they decided to use it since it was free? Seen agencies do that to some odd vehicle before. The grand marquis would be just a luxury form of crown vic for basic use.

 

[Phoenix805]

Sounds like funeral escort to me. Most of them have changed from motorcycles to cars, and many of their cars look an awful lot like police cars. One service uses cars that look almost identical to Phoenix PD and say Phoenix Traffic on the side. State law specifically allows them to use lights and sirens. I have seen another service using dark cars, but I didn't get a good look at them. I suspect that even with the car verses motorcycle for visibility and safety, the more they look/act/sound like real cops the better cooperation they get from traffic.

But, if you didn't see a funeral, I don't know. Maybe the clown was going to do a funeral the next day and was doing a dry run to check the route and the timing?

 

[VGSMC_8520]

I thought funeral escort too, but I didn't see any line of cars going through the intersection. But from where I was a few cars back my view was partially obstructed and I guess I couldn't say 100% if there was or wasn't. All in all, I thought the lack of clearly identifiable markings on his car and him splitting so fast when the ADOT office rolled up was kind of amusing.

 

[VGSMC_8520]

One service uses cars that look almost identical to Phoenix PD and say Phoenix Traffic on the side.

LOL - thanks for the laugh! These guys are the ultimate whackers, there's no way they picked those uniforms and livery without knowingly trying to emulate Phoenix PD. I understand the importance of traffic control in special situations/events, but these guys are purposely blurring the line. They even have badges, do "speed patrols" with radar guns in gated communities!!!



Phoenix Metro Traffic

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-Traffic-Division-LLC/465603246790511

 

[joen7xxx]

These guys advertise that they do "first call" work which is funeral home speak for dead body removal as well! I wonder if they will remove dead animals as well like Larry, my brother Darrell and my other brother Darrell?

 

[VGSMC_8520]

It's sad really, these guys maybe weren't good enough for their chosen career and have to resort to exploiting an obscure law regarding funereal processions that allows them to dress up like a cop and deck out their personal vehicle with emergency lights and sirens. These morons tout "safety" all over their website, yet there's a dozen pictures on their Facebook page taken from the drivers seat of one of their cruisers while driving in a procession. While they may not explicitly be posing as a law enforcement or stating they are as such, I don't believe for one second that they don't get off on the similarity of their vehicles and uniform to public safety agencies. I'll bet these guys carry sidearms too in order to further present the air of a law enforcement official.

 

[WatnNY]

Why are we taking a thread asking about something specific and bashing a private company?

Mike

 

[VGSMC_8520]

Fine, remove the thread. I don't care. But I'm gonna call out poser whackers every time I see them

 

[2wayfreq]

I would have never believed it until I moved to AZ. I thought it was a large group of Sheriff Units responding to an emergency until I got a closer look. Funeral Escort/Decked out Crown Vics?? Full Red/Blue Lights and Sirens?? Nahhh Couldn't Be!
That would NEVER happen in CA, Ambers only or Local PD/CHP would crucify them.

 

[2wayfreq]

I have also seen some (Used Police) and Dark Crown Vics around Phoenix. Some have Radio antennas on them either Security or "Pimped out Radio Techs" with the latest APX7500 P25 whored out flashcode and all..LOL!!

 

[Phoenix805]

for anyone interested

This is what the Arizona Revised Statute (State law) 28-776 says about funeral escorts. (This is just 2 paragraphs of a much longer law.) (highlights are mine)

This is quoted from : Format Document

B. A driver of a funeral escort vehicle or military escort vehicle who is certified pursuant to subsection D of this section may direct and control the drivers of vehicles in a funeral procession or military procession and any other vehicle in or approaching any intersection to stop, proceed or make the turns or other movements as required without regard to any traffic control device prescribed by statute or local ordinance. Funeral escort vehicles or military escort vehicles may exceed the speed limit by fifteen miles per hour when overtaking processions to direct traffic at the next intersection. A funeral escort vehicle or military escort vehicle shall be equipped with at least one lighted lamp exhibiting a red or red and blue light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of the vehicle and an audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle as required under section 28-624.

C. The sheriff in each county shall register funeral escort vehicles and military escort vehicles and issue an identification sticker or plate that is affixed to the vehicle in order to identify the vehicle as a funeral escort vehicle or military escort vehicle. When acting as a funeral escort or military escort, the driver of a properly equipped and registered funeral escort vehicle or military escort vehicle has all of the rights and privileges of a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle proceeding to an emergency call as provided under section 28-624.

At least the escorts I saw yesterday said 'Funeral Escort' in large letters down the side of the car.