In San Diego, police officers who get speeding tickets or park in the wrong place probably get little more than a stern word from their supervisor as additional punishment (think of Axel Foley’s boss dressing him down in the Beverly Hills Cop movies).
But The New York Times has found a police chief in Thailand who has come up with an innovative way of ensuring his officers keep in check.
Police officers in Bangkok who commit certain misdemeanors such as dropping trash in public or showing up late for work will be forced to wear a pink armband embossed with a Hello Kitty logo and a pair of linked hearts
Here’s some quotes, courtesy of the Times:
“Simple warnings no longer work,” said Pongpat Chayaphan, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, who instituted the new humiliation this week.
“This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor,” he said. “Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It’s not something macho police officers want covering their biceps.”
The Times story states that 10 of the armbands have so far been made, but none have yet been issued. Apparently, the cops are terrified of going out in public wearing the pink armbands and are being especially careful not to tick off their chief.