Nanaimo Mounties disavow tweet asking residents to 'please avoid committing crime' during snowstorm
Credit to Author: Harrison Mooney| Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2020 00:54:41 +0000
The Nanaimo RCMP has distanced itself from a satirical plea to “please avoid committing crime” during a rare snowstorm on Vancouver Island.
The request, posted online Tuesday by Vancouver Island satire site the Nanaimo Beacon, is designed to look like a message from the Nanaimo RCMP’s Facebook page, though the tone is wildly different.
“It’s really cold outside and we’d prefer it if you’d do something nice for a change, like — I dunno, build a snowman or something?” the message reads. “They’re calling for more snow tomorrow so also please refrain from doing Bad Things tomorrow. kthxbai.”
In the 24 hours since it was first posted to the Nanaimo Beacon’s Facebook page, it has been shared over 2,500 times, and liked nearly 700 times.
Among those sharing the image: the Abbotsford Police Department, who tweeted the post, removed from its original source, and tagged the Nanaimo RCMP.
Yes…. what @NanaimoRCMP said 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/YcVXtLYhtB
Other police agencies RCMP detachments, including the Squamish RCMP and Burnaby RCMP, echoed the sentiment, annoyed Nanaimo Mounties took to Twitter themselves to clarify that this statement did not, in fact, originate with them.
“The recent post alluding to it being a snow day and to refrain from criminal activity was not created or posted by the Nanaimo RCMP,” the department tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “An online satirical outfit has claimed responsibility. We have contacted them concerning our displeasure, and we apologize for any confusion.”
The recent post alluding to it being a snow day and to refrain from criminal activity was not created or posted by the Nanaimo RCMP. An online satirical outfit has claimed responsibility. We have contacted them concerning our displeasure, and we apologize for any confusion
“People should be able to rely on things that say ‘Nanaimo RCMP’ as a legitimate source of information,” explained Cpl. Chris Manseau, who said the image made the rounds inside the department and many found it funny. Nevertheless, he felt it was important to establish that the post did not originate from the RCMP.
“It is a little concerning that things get attributed to us when they really aren’t,” he said.
Reached for comment, the trio of anonymous satirists behind the Nanaimo Beacon, confirmed that they had been contacted by police.
“Honestly, we all intended that as a little love note to the local RCMP,” the site’s operators said. “We’re completely baffled as to why they got their knickers in such tight a twist.”
The Vancouver Island pranksters, who said they run the website for giggles and make no money from it, did not appear concerned by the firestorm they had caused.
“Their media guy said some very scary legal-ish sounding things and demanded a retraction,” they said. “Luckily, Nanaimo is home to some excellent sativa blends, so we’re good now.”
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