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Belen Police Division turned a weekend drug bust right into a recreation present parody on Fb, garnering applause, booing and tons of of shares from locals.

“Catching a Drug Supplier” highlighted the December 16 arrest of 28-year-old Brittany Williams and 43-year-old Pete Chavez, for allegedly seizing fentanyl, methamphetamine, psychedelic mushrooms and $13,000 throughout police raids on Chavez’s house.

“Let’s meet at the moment’s contestants,” he says within the BPD’s Fb submit—describing Chavez as somebody with a “lengthy and soiled historical past of drug dealing”, and Williams’ “hobbies embrace ingesting meth and fentanyl, singing to buddies in low locations, and simply hanging out with the unhealthy crowd.” ”

“So let’s have a look at what our contestants have gained,” the submit says, itemizing their fees.

Within the submit, Belen police acknowledged Chavez because the grand prize winner with “an all-expenses-paid journey to the unique Valencia County Detention Middle.”

The submit reads, “At all times DON’T FORGET THE NATIONS, PLAY STUPID GAMES AND YOU CAN WIN STUD PRIZES”. “… if you’re a drug supplier in our space, you may be subsequent.”

Regardless of Chavez’s lengthy legal document, it was Williams’ first drug cost and first indictment since 2014. It’s unclear whether or not Williams or Chavez has a lawyer.

Belen Vice President Jose Natividad instructed the Journal that the division takes dependancy very significantly and that “that is the trick to utilizing humor” within the submit.

“A critical submit on the finish of the day,” he added.

At the very least on-line, suggestions has been overwhelmingly constructive, Natividad stated.

The submit was shared practically 400 instances and obtained greater than 300 smiley emojis and 169 coronary heart emojis, in comparison with 9 unhappy emojis and 6 offended emojis. It obtained greater than 400 likes and as many feedback.

A whole lot of individuals praised the submit and applauded the Belen police, “two thumbs up”, “whoever wrote this could get a increase!” and “Ready for the subsequent episode on the sting of my seat.”

One girl stated, “I really like this report! Greatest laughs at the moment!”

The few chosen ones didn’t agree.

One stated, “That is disgusting. Treating criminals because the hotspot, undoubtedly swinging the bottom hanging fruit. One other known as the episode’s submit “unprofessional” and wrote, “Should you assume this can be a major problem, take it significantly.”

One man wrote: “An excessive amount of to be harmless till responsible and to deal with the general public with dignity and respect… Everybody concerned ought to be ashamed.”

Reactions prompted Chief James Harris to put in writing his personal Fb submit on Monday, noting that suggestions ranged from “absolute gratitude to absolute avoidance (sic)”.

He stated the division has an “unimaginable quantity of empathy” for drug customers, however “ought to let or not it’s recognized that their actions have penalties”.

Harris stated the sport show-like submit was made with that in thoughts.

I can say it has achieved its objective,” he stated. “Make no mistake, I’m not apologizing for the content material of the submit and the submit won’t be eliminated.”

Harris stated he felt the Belen police had been “fulfilling our obligation to society” if the submit made somebody “assume twice” about not being “shamed like this”.

Responses to Harris had been additionally numerous.

“I say hold the humor,” one girl wrote. One other commented, “I want (the Albuquerque Police Division) would have continued this ‘sequence’.”

“I used to be very disenchanted with the doubles,” one girl wrote. “… The truth that folks discover it amusing is not proof that you just’re appearing unprofessional – it is extra the argument that it is proof of an absence of empathy.”

It’s unclear whether or not there shall be one other episode.

Natividad stated it is a chance.

“There is not one at present in growth. We have had much more good suggestions than unhealthy – there could also be extra posts sooner or later,” he stated. Not everybody shall be completely happy about it; It was a great article.”