Having fun at LEO's expense

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:44 am

Over the years (not having illegal stuff to worry about) I have had some fun at LEO's expense (especially the undercover cops that are so obvious).

My first trick involves the "Burner" cops who think a few costume bits allows them to blend in as they walk through public areas stopping, looking, and sniffing for pot. When I see a suspected undercover agent walking in or around my camp, out of uniform, I walk up (usually naked or partially so) in a brisk fashion with a big smile and open arms. "Welcome to my camp, Brother!" I announce as I immediately give them a big hug. "I love you!" - this never fails to freak them out and they generally leave my camp immediately. I have pulled this off 3 times now, and it has been a hoot every time. Of course, I also do this to people in general, so I am pretty good at pulling it off with sincerity.

This year I pulled another. After responding to a medical emergency in our bar (I am an ex-EMT), I was assisting an officer with crowd control (note: he seemed more interested in looking at the scantily clad female patient than doing his job, so I basically took over crowd control for him). During the course of conversation with him (which he started), he revealed that his first burn year was also my first burn year. "Why, that means we were virgins together!" I told him, to which he cringed. Since he was being sort of unprofessional about maintaining the crowd, and wasn't very friendly overall, using the time to grill me about what type of camp we had (the word Prick comes to mind here), I decided to start jerking his chain. Everytime a campmate would walk up trying to get info out of me (which I never give, having been in SAR for decades), I would tell them "but this officer and I lost our virginity together in 2001". BTW - this was well after the video incident I mentioned in another post, and the fact that the BLM had video'ed me and he was trying to grill me wayed in on my decision to start jerking his chain.

Any other stories about ways to have fun with LEO's at burningman?

oh yeah, if you have illegal stuff, best not to try any of these....

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:32 am

We were on our pedal bike and offered to race the BLM ranger in the golfcart for pink slips. He laughed but then we sped away. Had a nice chat when he caught up, he was amused rather than annoyed.

dapete · Post by **dapete** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:34 am

I've found that the BLM SUVs make a nice receptical for MOOP. Of course, you have ask nicely if they have a trash bag but they usually consent.

The CO · Post by **The CO** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:47 am

We had a cocktail party after the burn and the cops showed up, hung out for a bit. They has glow all over their car, so we gave them a jumbo lightstick for the light bar. One of them had a LED readerboard nametag that said "I'm getting paid to be here". They were great! Even let us pet the K9 doggie.

Sorry, I know it's not a 'messin with em' story, but how often do the cops crash a party to hang out rather than bust it?

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:57 pm

Several years ago, a very nice deputy from the Washoe Sheriff's dept. was shooting the breeze with us. It had rained some and his dark blue car had a good coating of playa - so a number of us proceeded to get topless and put boobie prints all over his car - he thought it was great and took photos.

On the negative side, there have been a couple of occasions when an undercover came into my camp offering drugs for sale - they get followed with a bullhorn to announce their presence. "This young man has drugs for sale - step right up, etc..."

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:17 pm

The CO wrote:We had a cocktail party after the burn and the cops showed up, hung out for a bit. They has glow all over their car, so we gave them a jumbo lightstick for the light bar. One of them had a LED readerboard nametag that said "I'm getting paid to be here". They were great! Even let us pet the K9 doggie.

Sorry, I know it's not a 'messin with em' story, but how often do the cops crash a party to hang out rather than bust it?

I was there and I admit it was one of the highlights of my burn this year to see this. I've had mundane to negative experiences with LE out there...this was the first time they truly made me smile when they rolled up.

ubu · Post by **ubu** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:39 pm

I'm not messing with anybody out there. I'm just friendly and open as I am everywhere.
The Pershing county gentlefolk are just that much more relaxed and acclimated to the burn.
There is even an enthusiastic retired Nevada Supreme Court Judge who is a regulare burner.

Our federal officers, with some exceptions are another story. This game with BLM should and will end. They play a game where though they want our influx of money and honeys, they act as if the permit is something we must work for, as if we are at their mercy. Police me please. Surveill me please. Please grant me a permit.

Please!

I did and do enjoy pointing out art to anyone and everyone, and I did turn some BLM onto some center camp art. I enjoyed the look on their faces as they contemplated the art. They asked me what it meant. I said, "not a thing at all, let yourself enjoy the oddity of it." and they did.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:59 pm

We had a BLM officer with a Serious Case of Military Bearing come into the Piss Clear dome late in the week looking for the last issue (the fashion one). We asked if he wanted a copy of the Drug issue as well, but he politely declined- he already had it.

He then spent about 10 minutes very politley shooting the shit with us, telling us how much he & his crew love Piss Clear, and how what a good time they were having this year. All the while- Serious Case of Military Bearing. Never even relaxed his shoulders, but nice as all hell, in a very stiff sort of way. (we also discovered that the one sure-fire guaranteed way to get busted for peeing on the playa is to piss on a BLM vehicle)

Probably one of the best interactions I've had with LEO's out there.

However- I have also never been hit up with so many lame requests for "party favors" or "hey dude, wheres the hot party tonight? Think they'll have favors?". Our reply to the second query was basically that you're at Burning Man- you're surrounded by the party.