Introducing the local police to geocaching

[+beauxeault]

I live in a small town, where the police likely don't know much if anything about geocaching. It has occurred to me several times before that it might be helpful to try to approach my local police dept. and offer to introduce them to the concept of geocaching, so they could be better informed and perhaps less likely to cause trouble for local geocachers.

 

Then since this last weekend I've had an even stronger urge to set up such a meeting. This is because a cacher logged a DNF on one of my caches stating that the local police had disinvited him from the convenient parking near the cache because it constituted trespassing on city property. The cache placement was approved by the town manager, who selected the location over another option precisely because of the attractiveness of the parking spot, since it would take geocachers off of the active street (not that there's much traffic there anyway). Obviously the police were not told about the permission, and I wouldn't expect them to be, but it's frustrating that their ignorance (I use that word non-pejoratively) should result in an "encounter" for a geocacher who actually DID have permission to be there. I don't want to go to the town manager who approved the placement and ask him to clarify things with the police, because it would make more work for him and might sour him to the idea of future permissions, or even cause him to rescind current permissions.

 

So does anyone have any experience with approaching a police dept. to educate them about geocaching? Am I opening a can of worms, or is it likely to be a net positive?

 

 

[+Panther&Pine]

Go for it. They can also get a free PM to use to keep an eye on things.

My home town the local Fire Department has a cache on their back porch, the police don't but new chief and all that jazz.

[Pup Patrol]

I live in a small town, where the police likely don't know much if anything about geocaching. It has occurred to me several times before that it might be helpful to try to approach my local police dept. and offer to introduce them to the concept of geocaching, so they could be better informed and perhaps less likely to cause trouble for local geocachers.

 

Then since this last weekend I've had an even stronger urge to set up such a meeting. This is because a cacher logged a DNF on one of my caches stating that the local police had disinvited him from the convenient parking near the cache because it constituted trespassing on city property. The cache placement was approved by the town manager, who selected the location over another option precisely because of the attractiveness of the parking spot, since it would take geocachers off of the active street (not that there's much traffic there anyway). Obviously the police were not told about the permission, and I wouldn't expect them to be, but it's frustrating that their ignorance (I use that word non-pejoratively) should result in an "encounter" for a geocacher who actually DID have permission to be there. I don't want to go to the town manager who approved the placement and ask him to clarify things with the police, because it would make more work for him and might sour him to the idea of future permissions, or even cause him to rescind current permissions.

 

So does anyone have any experience with approaching a police dept. to educate them about geocaching? Am I opening a can of worms, or is it likely to be a net positive?

 

Opening lines of communication between official agencies can only be helpful.

 

Help Center → Legal → Law Enforcement & Parks Professionals

2.1. Law Enforcement & Parks Professionals

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=266

 

 

B.

[+narcissa]

Go for it.

[+Mudfrog]

I placed a cache across the driveway from our local police department a few years back. The first thing i did was to go in and talk to the police chief before doing anything. Sure enough, he had never heard of geocaching and was glad that i came in to let him know. He told me at that time, that he would make sure the rest of the department know as well. That cache was placed in 2006 and is still going fine. I figure this has also helped alleviate concerns with other caches in the area too.

 

Definitely, go on in and give your police a heads up!

[+NeverSummer]

Getting in touch with land managers and law enforcement can also go the other way--against the game. Be sure that your message is clear, and that you're very well-versed on the guidelines of the game. You'll want to present this game for what it "is" (should be), where caches aren't buried, are labeled, and have permission from land owners to be there.

 

So long as you can demonstrate that the game self-polices effectively and efficiently, you're more likely to get a response where they are happy to know, but won't be reactionary or presumptuous if a call ever comes in where they have to police the game for us. In most of those cases where the local law enforcement is the police for the game we play, it results in blown-up caches or additional restrictions from land managers.

Edited October 16, 2014 by NeverSummer

[+ottieolsen]

My wife works for our police department and got half of the officers started lol

[+Ben0w]

Here in Germany the federal police had an article about geocaching in an internal newspaper. It is accessible on the internet and they even have a printed special edition of this article available. I grabbed some of them on a (very cool) event held by geocachers who are federal police LEOs.

 

This article kind of explains geocaching (in a positive way) and - as one of federal police's responsibility here is the railroad traffic - is directed towards security near railroad tracks.

 

Since this is an article from police sources, it is a very reliable read to other police agencies. I always have a copy with me to give them, should I ever have the chance to meet a LEO again while geocaching (the first and until now only ones reviewing my gc activity already knew about).

 

Unfortunately for you, it's in german: http://www.bundespolizei.de/DE/00Aktuelles/_News/2014/05/140508_geocaching_file.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

 

But maybe you can get hands on something similar from your countrie's other police departments?

[+wmpastor]

My wife works for our police department and got half of the officers started lol

It sharpens their investigative skills!

[+WarNinjas]

If you do it make sure you go about it the right way. I had a friend who payed for his registration on his car and never got the sticker. He had the bright idea one day when he seen a cop on the side of the freeway with someone pulled over, to stop and ask that officer if he could check to see if his car was actually registered. (Stupidest thing I have ever heard of doing) The cop told him sure just go back to his car and he will check when he is done giving the ticket. After he gave my friend a ticket for pulling over on a freeway for a non-emergency or something like that.

[+speakers-corner]

This is SOP in the UK. Members of the GAGB have held talks with the police all over the country explaining what Geocaching is and as a result have been able to incorporate the wishes of the police in the placing of Geocaches (transparent containers, no wires etc.).

[+ras_oscar]

This is SOP in the UK. Members of the GAGB have held talks with the police all over the country explaining what Geocaching is and as a result have been able to incorporate the wishes of the police in the placing of Geocaches (transparent containers, no wires etc.).

 

Make sure to fold your local reviewer into the discussion as well. Best way to ensure any concerns by the LEO is applied evenly to all caches in the area.

[+Manville Possum]

beauxeault,

 

A few of us discussed geocaching with our local CLEO several years ago during a meeting, so I can assure you that many LEO's are aware of geocaching in your area.

I do think it is a good idea for you to discuss geocaching with your local CLEO, but don't expect them to hold a special briefing educating the entire police force in NE Tennessee.

 

I know that you take time to get your caches approved and obtain proper permission, but I have been geocaching long enough that I can't say in good faith that geocachers are responsable people. I have seen the aftermath of destruction left behind from the cache crews. That being said, it takes good judgement from cache hiders and not depending on cache seekers out for the glory of numbers and a smiley.

 

Recently I attempted to find a new local listing that was just published, and I used my good judgement to keep on driving when I saw ithe cache was a magnetic container attached to a very large propane tank.

 

So no matter how much time we take to educate, we get the image as geocachers from bad publicty of others. So be prepared when you address geocaching to law enforcement that our hobby may be seen as negative.

[+-CJ-]

I wouldn't recommend doing this in Russia

[Andronicus]

I wouldn't recommend doing this in Russia

Are you suggesting that doing this in Russia may result in you being sent to the Gulags?

[4wheelin_fool]

The OP needs to contact the police chief and explain the situation as well as any permissions. At that point the chief should communicate with his officers about parking there, and with the town manager if needed. Most towns have a website with email these days, and that might be easiest. Setting up an appointment would be fine also.

[+-CJ-]

Are you suggesting that doing this in Russia may result in you being sent to the Gulags?

 

This is why we usually go caching with our bears - these creatures are able to make impression on our police. We call them geobears around here.

 

If we talk seriously, there are several reasons for not doing this. a) Local policemen typically don't know anything about geocaching so you'll need to start from scratch. b ) They hardly can communicate in English so you better be fluent in Russian. (Perhaps you are). c) They typically don't like anything uncommon that they don't understand. You cannot seriously rely on the legal system here that would protect your rights. Anyway, the worst scenario I can think of is that you will be transported to a local police office, questioned here and spend some hours behind bars before they understand you're just another crazy tourist who's most likely harmless though suspicious. I can hardly imagine that you will turn any Russian policeman into your faith after talking about the sport with him.

Edited October 17, 2014 by -CJ-

[Andronicus]

Are you suggesting that doing this in Russia may result in you being sent to the Gulags?

 

This is why we usually go caching with our bears - these creatures are able to make impression on our police. We call them geobears around here.

 

If we talk seriously, there are several reasons for not doing this. a) Local policemen typically don't know anything about geocaching so you'll need to start from scratch. b ) They hardly can communicate in English so you better be fluent in Russian. (Perhaps you are). c) They typically don't like anything uncommon that they don't understand. You cannot seriously rely on the legal system here that would protect your rights. Anyway, the worst scenario I can think of is that you will be transported to a local police office, questioned here and spend some hours behind bars before they understand you're just another crazy tourist who's most likely harmless though suspicious. I can hardly imagine that you will turn any Russian policeman into your faith after talking about the sport with him.

I always love to hear your prospective! You always bring a prospective that is so different from everyone else, it is a breath of fresh air.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Are you suggesting that doing this in Russia may result in you being sent to the Gulags?

 

This is why we usually go caching with our bears - these creatures are able to make impression on our police. We call them geobears around here.

 

If we talk seriously, there are several reasons for not doing this. a) Local policemen typically don't know anything about geocaching so you'll need to start from scratch. b ) They hardly can communicate in English so you better be fluent in Russian. (Perhaps you are). c) They typically don't like anything uncommon that they don't understand. You cannot seriously rely on the legal system here that would protect your rights. Anyway, the worst scenario I can think of is that you will be transported to a local police office, questioned here and spend some hours behind bars before they understand you're just another crazy tourist who's most likely harmless though suspicious. I can hardly imagine that you will turn any Russian policeman into your faith after talking about the sport with him.

I always love to hear your prospective! You always bring a prospective that is so different from everyone else, it is a breath of fresh air.

 

Ditto, though the first time I read CJ's post I read "beers" instead of bears, and thought if beers were involved it might mean spending several hours in front of a bar rather than behind bars.

 

 

[+popokiiti]

I think it is a good idea, especially as they can have a free PM! One of our local cachers is ex-RCMP, and it wouldn't surprise me if there are more LEOs caching.

[+JPreto]

I always talk with Park Guards or Police Officers if I see one nearby before trying to search the cache. This way I can avoid situations like this one that was not very pleasing:

 

http://coord.info/GLDDV9PZ

 

Sometimes the Park Guards helped me searching for the cache. I always think that informing the authorities helps the game and protects the cache because if they see anyone searching in the place where the cache is they understand it is a game and not someone placing a bomb or hiding drugs.

[+jellis]

I wouldn't go out of my way to tell them unless there was a reason. But I wouldn't lie to them when they ask me what I am doing. The only reason I told the police without their asking is when some pipe bombs were reported in a nearby park. Since there were many caches in the park I contacted them to let them know where they were so none would be mistaken for a bomb. The police officer I contacted met me at the park. He wanted to know more about caching so I told him. He asked where the nearest one was to them. I told him just behind him.

[+jellis]

I wouldn't go out of my way to tell them unless there was a reason. But I wouldn't lie to them when they ask me what I am doing. The only reason I told the police without their asking is when some pipe bombs were reported in a nearby park. Since there were many caches in the park I contacted them to let them know where they were so none would be mistaken for a bomb. The police officer I contacted met me at the park. He wanted to know more about caching so I told him. He asked where the nearest one was to them. I told him just behind him.