‘Hey, Seattle citizens. Don’t clog the cell network with your trivial social media posts during the Torchlight Parade, OK?’
That’s one way to summarize the Seattle Police Dept.’s request in advance one of the city’s biggest summer celebrations.
“If you plan on attending Torchlight, you can help keep networks moving smoothly by limiting your phone calls and social media use at the parade and using texts to communicate with friends and family,” read a post on the official SPD Blotter.
Somebody didn’t get the message.
Chief O'Toole and the Neighborhood Response Team pose for a selfie. #torchlight pic.twitter.com/X4Ja98L6Z4
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 26, 2015
Yes, that’s a selfie, taken by Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole at Torchlight, and posted by the department to Twitter. When the Seattle Times asked about the situation on Twitter, SPD responded, oddly, “Just asked you to stop with the Facebook reminders is all. We get it. You’re having a poetry reading.”
@seaclarridge Just asked you to stop with the Facebook event reminders is all. We get it. You're having a poetry reading.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 26, 2015
A police spokesman quickly followed up by telling the newspaper — via text — “You make a good point. Thanks for the reminder!”