When playing Pokémon GO, players are reminded to be aware of their surroundings and respect local laws. This warning is not just about safety but also implies that the game should not take precedence over more important matters, like responding to emergencies such as a robbery.
Two LAPD officers, Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell, were terminated from their positions after it was revealed that they ignored an active robbery call to indulge in playing Pokémon GO, specifically to capture a Snorlax. Evidence of their neglect was found in recordings from their police vehicle.
“The recordings indicated that at around 6:09 p.m., Officer Lozano disregarded the robbery call and Officer Mitchell informed Lozano about a Snorlax sighting at ’46th and Leimert’,” as per court documents obtained by Vice. “Instead of responding to the call, they decided to chase after the virtual creature.”
Top Los Angeles cops fired for ignoring robbery to chase a Snorlax in Pokémon GO https://t.co/n7lmBTkTM2
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) January 10, 2022
During the next 20 minutes, the officers continued discussing Pokémon and driving to various locations where virtual creatures appeared on their phones. Despite the officers’ attempt to appeal the termination, the court upheld the decision.
