Ok, can someone explain this to me. Back in June of this year we had a bunch of naked bicyclists. And Mark Beckner, Chief of Police, had this to say about it:
Beckner said last weekend’s Boulder arrest and the Frederick incident are more direct, obvious abuses of the law — while a groups of naked people enjoying “civil disobedience” doesn’t necessarily meet the threshold for police intervention.
“I think the police department tries to reflect the values of our community,” Beckner said. “I think our community values are pretty tolerant of civil disobedience.”
And, he said, groups of protesting bikers or runners have a different impact on the public at large.
“To ride by an intersection exposes people to less nakedness than if we stopped them for 20 minutes ... standing there naked exposing themselves to everyone in town,” Beckner said of the recent riders.
Ok, thoughtful, reasoned response. All good so far. Now we have the naked pumpkin run coming up and once again we turn to Mark Beckner who says:
Monday, Chief Mark Beckner said his department won’t send officers out specifically to bust participants. But he noted that officers who observe the nude sprinters do have the option to enforce indecent-exposure laws.
“I would not recommend anyone participating in it,” Beckner said of Friday night’s run. “We certainly do not condone the behavior.”
Ok, another very sensible response to the upcoming event. He discourages participation, points out police can arrest people for participating, but makes it clear that they are going to handle it appropriately and ignore it as long as it doesn't get out of hand.
But bring involve the BVSD (motto, we only graduate 70% of them, but we oppress all of them) and everyone loses all sense of proportion. First let's visit the Fairview/Boulder game last year where we got:
****[student] received a ticket for indecent exposure Sept. 20 after he attempted to sprint across the field wearing only racing flats and some purple body paint. His plan was foiled by security guards, who caught him hopping over the field's fence and held him until police arrived.
**** **** [student's father] said he learned that some students at the same game who were busted for fighting and being intoxicated were suspended for three days, as opposed to his son's week-long abeyance from classes.
And now we have it again at this year's game:
*** ******[student], a junior at the school, managed to dodge several security guards before he fell over a fence and was caught. He was booked at a Boulder juvenile detention center and later released to his father.
The boy faces a class-one misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure, Boulder police Sgt. Pat Wyton said Saturday.
The charge carries fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 and/or a sentence of six to 18 months in jail.
Wyton said it's also possible that a judge would order the teen to register as a sex offender, although that scenario is unlikely because a judge might view the stunt as less serious than other indecent exposure offenses.
So tell me - what's the difference? Why is a mass group of people running or biking naked ok while a student streaking a football game is a crime? This is a gigantic double standard.
The Police Department needs to be called on to explain what is going on. And if the real reason is that they choose to discriminate against students, that discrimination needs to be ended immediately, and an apology issued to the children that were inequitably charged.
This is a really bad move by the Police. The lesson the students take from this is that the police are a bunch of jackbooted thugs that can choose to randomly arrest those who they choose to while letting others go free. This sets these kid's view of law enforcement at a very impressionable age. While it may be a fair and accurate view of the police, it does not help generate a respect for the rule of law in our children.
Chief Beckner - I would welcome an explanation from you about why this double standard is equitable. After all, you theoretically work for us and I think it is very reasonable of us to ask you to answer.
And then there's BVSD. A more serious punishment for streaking than drinking & fighting? Where on earth are your priorities? And create the possibility that a child will carry a lifelong label of sex offender because he streaked. This isn't misguided, this is flat-out stupid.
Superintendent King - you also work for us. We entrust you with our children every day. Can you please tell us why the gigantic over-reaction to a harmless prank? And can you please tell us why you think this is worth possibly labeling an individual a sex offender for life over this action? We need to know because if you'll do something this inappropriate with our children, who knows what other dumb moves we can expect from you.
A final message to Mark Beckner & Chris King - try to show the judgment of an adult. The students were acting in an age appropriate manner - you two are not.
