Law Enforcement Agency in California accused of utilizing Lego toy figurinesfor mugshots; Lego requests immediate cessation of the practice.
Holy Smokes, Lego's Not a Toys-R-Us Dumping Ground!
Internet Shenanigans by Fatou Ferraro Mboup
Updated: October 1, 2024, 10:47 AMReading Time: 2 Minutes
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A Southern California police department found itself in a peculiar pickle after they were instructed to stop using Lego heads as covers for suspects' faces in their social media posts. Yes, you heard that right. The beloved toy blocks were used to disguise crooks in police lineups on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
The Murrieta Police Department initiated this peculiar practice back in early 2023, as a reaction to California's new law limiting the sharing of mugshots on social media. Instead of plastering the grins of criminals across the web, they opted for something a bit more colorful—Lego heads. C'mon, it's not every day you see a cheap LEGO knockoff choking a dude, right? Well, at least that wasn't the case.
On March 18, 2024, in an attempt to address the internet's burning questions, the department posted an Instagram photo with the caption: "Why the covered faces?" The post displayed a lineup of five hoodlums, with Lego heads in various expressions obscuring their faces. The post also mentioned the new California law.
Now, we're all for creative solutions to complex problems, but using Lego heads as disguises is a leap most of us didn't see coming. It's a lewd move that's both audacious and slightly bizarre. Sadly, Lego didn't share our amusement.
In a statement, Lieutenant Jeremy Durrant announced that the company had contacted the department and requested they stop incorporating Lego intellectual property into their social media content. According to Durrant, they fully understand and will comply with the request.
Law enforcement agencies across the United States often utilize social media platforms to share photos in initiatives like "Mugshot Mondays" and "Wanted Wednesdays" in an effort to cultivate community engagement. However, experts increasingly emphasize the harmful effects of sharing such images online. Mugshots can imply guilt for individuals awaiting trial and create significant barriers for those seeking to move past a criminal conviction, damaging their employment prospects and haunting them forever.
Following California's legislation, police departments and sheriff's offices must remove any booking photos they have shared on social media within 14 days, unless the individual remains a fugitive and poses an immediate threat to public safety[1][2].
Now, the Murrieta Police Department finds itself adrift in a sea of questionable social media content, scrambling to find a suitable replacement for their beloved Lego heads. Perhaps they'll try emojis, or maybe they'll opt for the traditional approach. One thing is certain: the Lego fiasco has certainly left its mark on the department's internet presence.
What's the deal with Lego, NSFW stuff, and Copperheads?
In 2024, Lego asked the Murrieta Police Department to cease using Lego heads in their social media posts, specifically as digital coverings for the faces of suspects in mugshots shared online[1][2][3]. The reason for this request is rooted in Lego’s desire to protect and control its trademark and brand image. Lego does not wish for its products or brand to be associated with sensitive or negative contexts, such as criminal activity or law enforcement mugshots[1][2][3].
Lego’s response was a formal request for the police department to stop using Lego heads in their posts, emphasizing the protection of their brand’s reputation and clear guidelines regarding the use of their intellectual property[1][2][3]. No further legal action was reported at the time, but the request generated both support and commentary on social media, with discussions revolving around police transparency and copyright concerns[1][2].
- The internet quickly buzzed with discussions, centering around the intersection of pop-culture and social-media, as people debated the use of Lego heads by the Murrieta Police Department, with Lego themselves requesting its cessation in sensitive contexts.
- During the theatrical entertainments that followed the Lego fiasco, the significance of maintaining brand integrity within the realm of social-media became a talking point, providing a fascinating glimpse into the dual worlds of toys and law enforcement.
