Police on hunt for Santa Fe. Co deputy imposter

You can't make this stuff up, only in New Mexico.

Has the tin foil dude been at work again?

Ever hear of 'caller id'? Triangulation via the cell phone companies' records (which I realize would take a little time, perhaps days)?

Would it have killed the department to share the info about the vehicles being stolen so the public could know that something like this could happen and be on the lookout for the department's cars?

"You can't make this stuff up, only in New Mexico."

No, it happens elsewhere. These folks are called wackers. There was one in Onondaga County, NY (Syracuse) stopping people on the highway and giving them tickets. He had stolen a ticket book from a real deputy. These people are very disturbed. Some have joined search and rescue, Red Cross, volunteer fire dept. etc. only to be kicked out for bullying behavior. Some but not all are CBers or hams, though they tend not to get along with those groups. A telltale sign is a used Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, lots of antennas (often no radios to use them!), various strobe lights on the dash and rear deck, handcuffs hung on rear view mirror, and often a vanity or other special license plate.(Hams often have radios in their vehicles and several antennas but they are not trying to pose as public safety.)

Remember there are volunteer police such as local reserves, the state Mounted Patrol, etc. that are legitimate. The wackers couldn't get into those groups for obvious reasons.

Did the person solve any crimes, this would have really got the Police Dept. upset.

oh wonderful..now we gotta wonder if we're the next Barney Fife victim!