In a recent announcement that seemed to borrow from the lexicon of gaming culture, the Burleson Police Department of Texas took to social media to share news of an arrest. The Burleson Police Department's Facebook post yesterday, featured a metaphor-filled update stating, "Teamwork threw the blue shell. Kenya Brown is in custody. Boss fight complete, castle cleared, Princess.... arrested." The reference is clearly to the popular "Mario Kart" video game, although the subject at hand was far from a game: the top 10 most wanted list for October.
Kenya Brown, who's name figured prominently on this list, is now behind bars, while the authorities stress that the community should remain vigilant. If anyone recognizes other individuals on the list, the police have urged them to not directly approach. They can instead reliably report any information by calling 817-426-9903 or Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477. There's also an option to directly email the authorities at [email protected]. Underlining the anonymity that tipsters can expect, the Burleson Police Department concluded, "Tips can be anonymous."
These updates from law enforcement are part of a broader strategy to engage the public in the process of maintaining law and order. By doing so, the Burleson Police Department mirrors a trend where authorities are leaning into more accessible, sometimes playful language to draw in a connected, digitally savvy audience. They must believe that an audience schooled in the language of video games might more readily absorb and act on such news when it is couched in familiar terms—even when the subjects are as serious as apprehending wanted individuals.
