Concerns arise following a dangerous attack on lawmakers in Minnesota by individuals posing as police officers.

Vance Boelter fled Minnesota out of fear after allegedly pretending to be a police officer and shooting two state lawmakers, resulting in the death of one and her husband, at their residences last week.

But what can you do to verify that the person who knocks on your door or pulls you over while you’re in your vehicle is a law enforcement officer?

Mark Bruley, the police chief in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where Boelter supposedly committed the crimes, addressed the media at a press briefing earlier this week. He emphasized the importance of verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer by suggesting a foolproof method.

Bruley stressed, “The safest course of action is to dial 911 and confirm whether the individual at your doorstep is indeed a police officer. A legitimate officer will be able to provide you with a link to a dispatch center for verification. Therefore, if you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact 911. It is always better to be cautious, especially considering the variety of uniforms worn by law enforcement officers.”

Higgins said officers usually call in traffic violations to dispatch, so drivers can still call 911 or the local police to verify that an officer performing their duties initiated the stop.

Higgins advised citizens to always be aware of their surroundings and to pull over in public places, if possible.

If unable to immediately pull over in a public place, Higgins said drivers can lower their window just enough, keep their car in drive and ask the officer if it’s possible to drive to another place that is safer or more public.

Higgins said that police officers understand that citizens may be uncertain or nervous and ask for verification.

“If their answer is anything other than professional, it should raise a concern,” Higgins said. That is, if the citizen didn’t do anything obviously illegal like run a red light, he added as a caveat.

In the case in Minnesota, Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer, wearing a flesh-colored mask, a black tactical vest and carrying a flashlight before shooting and killing state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their respective homes.

Boelter also drove a black SUV equipped with police-style lights and a fake license plate that said “POLICE,” according to a court affidavit.

Video footage from Hoffman’s home shows a masked Boelter at the front door wearing the black tactical vest and holding a flashlight, according to the affidavit. Boelter then allegedly knocked on their door and shouted repeatedly, “This is the police. Open the door.”

The Hoffmans answered the door but, since Boelter was shining the flashlight in their eyes, realized too late that Boelter was not a real police officer, the affidavit said.