For the police officer, the man’s body language was the giveaway. His combative stance and his abrupt hand movement hinted at the possibility of danger.The New Haven Police Department was recently contacted by a business solicited by a caller to advertise on a magnet that would supposedly be distributed by the department.
The caller asked for $595 and said 1,000 of the magnets would be given to the police to pass out to the public, the department said in a written statement issued Tuesday.
It said any legitimate requests from the department would be made with an officer present or with a letter sent on the department's official letterhead.
Anything else is "likely a scam," and police should be contacted right away, the statement said. The department does not solicit for donations using the phone.
Anyone who is asked for money on behalf of the department and is not sure the request is valid may call 748-7080 to report it.
