A Southern California police department’s post on social media about handling an ex for Valentine’s Day with handcuffs is getting a lot of attention – and they say that was the whole plan.
The Santa Maria Police Department posted a video on Facebook ahead of the holiday with the message “Roses are red, violets are blue, got an ex with warrants, we’ll pick them up for you.”
The video features Officer Juan Robles, a motorcycle cop who’s been with the department for the last ten years.
In the clip, Robles holds up what appears to be a giant red box of chocolates. But as he lifts the lid further, the only thing inside is a pair of handcuffs.
Lt. Felix Diaz, who has been with the Santa Maria Police Department for 18 years, said the response from the community about the video has been terrific and exactly what he hoped for.
”It’s a satire on Valentine’s Day,” Diaz told the California Post. “And also we have people with warrants and we are here to arrest them.”
He added: “It’s also an effort to do outreach to the community, and so they can see the human side of officers. That we have a sense of humor too.”
Diaz told us this was the first time they’ve ever done anything like this for Valentine’s day and they are loving the response.
Officer Robles’ wife, Danielle Robles, shared the video too and is letting everyone know how excited her husband was to do it. It also didn’t escape her just how much, she said, her “husband is loving all the attention.”
The SoCal cops said they got the idea from the Visalia Police Department in Central California, which did something similar last year.
The post blew up on social media. “Talk about great advertising! You caught my attention with the nice-looking officer, and then you really got me with the services you offer. SOLD!!!” one person wrote.
Another added: “Well, that wasn’t quite where my mind went with that cop bringing that gift for us to open!”
Lt. Diaz credited his social media person with finding the video from the VPD and suggesting that they should do the same.