Published on August 27, 2025

For Immediate Release

Bear Valley Police Department

25101 Bear Valley Road

(661) 821-3239

Bear Valley Police Department Warns of Potential Law Enforcement Impersonator

The Bear Valley Police Department is warning of a potential scam involving an individual impersonating a law enforcement officer in the Tehachapi area.

A Senior Deputy at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Tehachapi Substation recently received a report from a resident who said they were contacted by someone claiming to be “Lieutenant Robert Bivens” with the Bakersfield Police Department. The person who reported it claimed the “officer” told her to contact a specific deputy regarding a possible warrant. When KCSO investigated, they found that the deputy she was told to contact was not aware of the situation and had never contacted the reporting party.

The Sheriff’s Office believes this was an attempted scam and is actively investigating the incident.

Protect Yourself:

If you are ever contacted by someone claiming to be with law enforcement and you are unsure if they are legitimate, take the following steps:

• Ask for their full name
• Request their badge number
• Confirm the agency they represent

Once you have that information, independently verify it by contacting the agency directly. Do not use phone numbers or contact details provided by the caller. Look up the official contact information yourself.

The Bear Valley Police Department reminds residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

Contact:

Jeff Lenk, Communications Specialist

661-805-7062

jlenk@bvcsd.org