Authorities recently apprehended one woman for allegedly pretending to be one of them. 

Amanda Kay Ryder, 39, of Murrayville, was arrested by the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office on March 3 just after 2 p.m. and charged with a felony count of impersonating an officer. 

This charge does not require that a person believe somebody else is actually a peace officer, only that the person acting “intends to mislead” another person or people into thinking that. 

A DCSO warrant accuses Ryder of pretending to be a deputy between 4-5 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2021 at the intersection of Ga. 400 South and Lumpkin Campground Road North.

During a road rage exchange with another driver, Ryder allegedly claimed to be a DCSO deputy. Using that erroneous authority, she purportedly ordered the other driver to roll down their window and exit their vehicle, the warrant states. 

Ryder even gave a badge number when asked to produce a badge during the encounter, the warrant states. 

After her arrest and booking, her bond was set at $5,700. She was released on that bond the following day, March 4. 

“Impersonating a police officer is one of those crimes that make it more difficult for law enforcement officers to do their job,” said Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson. “Whenever the public begins to question the legitimacy of a traffic stop, or any law enforcement action, it serves to reduce our effectiveness and increases suspicion. Therefore, these incidents are taken very seriously.”

Johnson explained that increased traffic congestion, mixed with everyday personal problems and quick tempers, can present conditions ripe for increased road rage incidents. 

“It is critical that we drive defensively and always strive to avoid any roadway confrontations,” he said. 

He called separation “key to avoiding a confrontation” and said in instances where that’s not possible, that a person contact DCSO as soon as possible.

“The quicker an officer can respond, the less likely a more serious incident will occur,” Johnson said.