Former Columbus police officer charged with impersonating law enforcement after Lee County traffic stop
A former Columbus Police Department employee has been charged with felony impersonating a peace officer after investigators say she falsely presented herself as a police officer during a traffic stop in Smiths Station.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on July 31, 2026, when a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Lee Road 600 for an expired vehicle tag.
Investigators said that as the deputy approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, the driver, Shaina Miller, 32, of Phenix City, was holding a small wallet with a clear plastic cover containing what appeared to be an identification card. Miller reportedly removed the card, placed it on her lap, and then handed the deputy her driver’s license.
When the deputy asked about the identification card, Miller allegedly responded, “CPD.” After the deputy asked if she worked there and what her position was, Miller reportedly stated that she was a police officer.
After the initial traffic stop concluded, the deputy contacted a member of the Columbus Police Department, who advised that Miller was no longer employed by the agency.
The deputy then located Miller again and conducted a second traffic stop. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Miller turned over her former Columbus Police Department identification card when requested and told the deputy she had left the department in 2024.
Investigators said Miller also admitted to using the police identification card during previous traffic stops to avoid receiving citations.
Miller was arrested and charged with felony Impersonating a Peace Officer. She was transported to the Lee County Detention Center, where she was held on a $3,000 bond. Jail records indicate she has since bonded out.
In a statement, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said:
“The Lee County Sheriff’s Office continues our vigilance in detecting and preventing any actions that undermine the men and women engaged in providing professional public service. Impersonating a law enforcement officer is an affront to law enforcement and the public and should never be tolerated.”
Additional information from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office:
Officials clarified that the deputy issued a warning instead of a citation during the initial traffic stop.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle’s tag had expired in June, and the traffic stop occurred in July, so the deputy used his discretion to issue a warning rather than a ticket.
So far in 2026, Lee County deputies have conducted 6,472 traffic stops, issuing 2,894 citations, while the remaining stops resulted in warnings or no citation.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
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