Another one bites the dust

[+va griz]

I just thought this log showed a sense of humor by the Portsmouth (P-town) Police, one of whom created an account to log the find & removal. For what it's worth, I have found that cache, which was at the edge of the cemetery but near the road. I guess that turned out to be the problem.

[+Castle Mischief]

In before the "BUT IT'S PUBLIC LAND AND I AM THE PUBLIC" crew take over the thread.

 

I really, really hope that somebody not directly connected to this cache doesn't call that number.

[+bittsen]

In before the "BUT IT'S PUBLIC LAND AND I AM THE PUBLIC" crew take over the thread.

 

I really, really hope that somebody not directly connected to this cache doesn't call that number.

 

Too late. I called them and chewed them out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding, of course.

 

But on the original topic, I didn't see the "humor" you spoke of.

[knowschad]

Looks like Motorcycle Mama found that one in 2007!

 

Sounds like the problem was cachers going there after dark. Actually, if vandalism has been an issue there, having cachers showing up sporadically might have actually been a deterrant, but if its against the law... moot point.

Edited September 17, 2009 by knowschad

[+bittsen]

I reread the message from the Portsmouth PoPo and had an additional thought.

 

Was the cache removed because caching in cemetaries is illegal or because going into the cemetary at night is illegal?

If it's the former, then the cache should have been removed but if its the latter, the cache should have remained.

In the case of the latter, the police overstepped their boundaries and paralleled the cache with night time vandalism.

 

Oh well, what can you do when the government starts telling you what you can and can't do? (this comment doesn't apply if caching in the cemetary IN THE DAYLIGHT is is illegal)

[+Castle Mischief]

In before the "BUT IT'S PUBLIC LAND AND I AM THE PUBLIC" crew take over the thread.

 

I really, really hope that somebody not directly connected to this cache doesn't call that number.

 

Too late. I called them and chewed them out.

 

Darn it! So close!

[+Castle Mischief]

I reread the message from the Portsmouth PoPo and had an additional thought.

 

Was the cache removed because caching in cemetaries is illegal or because going into the cemetary at night is illegal?

If it's the former, then the cache should have been removed but if its the latter, the cache should have remained.

In the case of the latter, the police overstepped their boundaries and paralleled the cache with night time vandalism.

 

Oh well, what can you do when the government starts telling you what you can and can't do? (this comment doesn't apply if caching in the cemetary IN THE DAYLIGHT is is illegal)

 

Actually, I kind of feel the same way.

 

I hope the CO and the police can work something out. There may be other forces at work here. At any rate it's hardly worth the trouble. I'd archive the cache and move on.

Edited September 17, 2009 by Castle Mischief

[knowschad]

people were coming into the cemetary at night which is against the law

 

 

The way it reads to me is that coming into the cemetery at night is what is against the law. That information is not on the cache page... I wonder if it is on a sign at the cemetery?

[+the_bell_dingers]

If its against the law at night, then say it is not available at night on the cache page.

Edited September 17, 2009 by the_bell_dingers

[jholly]

people were coming into the cemetary at night which is against the law

 

 

The way it reads to me is that coming into the cemetery at night is what is against the law. That information is not on the cache page... I wonder if it is on a sign at the cemetery?

 

And we both know how much a dawn to dusk sign or a no trespassing deters the determined cacher.

 

Jim

[knowschad]

people were coming into the cemetary at night which is against the law

 

 

The way it reads to me is that coming into the cemetery at night is what is against the law. That information is not on the cache page... I wonder if it is on a sign at the cemetery?

 

And we both know how much a dawn to dusk sign or a no trespassing deters the determined cacher.

 

Jim

 

[+Aberwak]

And we both know how much a dawn to dusk sign or a no trespassing deters the determined cacher.

 

Jim

 

That's only if they see the sign. Once it gets dark, those signs just seem to hide themselves.

[+bittsen]

That's only if they see the sign. Once it gets dark, those signs just seem to hide themselves.

 

I figure that would be a good excuse when you are looking into the beam of a PoPo's flashlight at midnight in the cemetary.

[+va griz]

But on the original topic, I didn't see the "humor" you spoke of.

 

I thought the name P town Popo and light blue shirt comment sounded pretty funny. Could just be me but the whole log seemed good natured and almost apologetic. Just my take I guess.

[+Stargazer22]

But on the original topic, I didn't see the "humor" you spoke of.

 

I thought the name P town Popo and light blue shirt comment sounded pretty funny. Could just be me but the whole log seemed good natured and almost apologetic. Just my take I guess.

 

That's my take, too. I thought it was good natured and friendly. After all, they said he is "welcome" to hide it on any other city property not in a restricted area. That's probably about as much explicit permission as you are going to get from the POPO, I would think.

 

They also noted that they would have left it there if not for so much vandalism. They might be helping cachers to stay out of an area that they are watching for vandals. I'd say thanks to them for that.

Personally, I 'm not crazy about caching in an area known for a lot of vandalism, and would just as well search for a cache somewhere else.

[+Renegade Knight]

Looks like Motorcycle Mama found that one in 2007!

 

Sounds like the problem was cachers going there after dark. Actually, if vandalism has been an issue there, having cachers showing up sporadically might have actually been a deterrant, but if its against the law... moot point.

Vandalism is a fairly common issue with cemetaries. Cachers doing their thing would actually be a deturrent. Even the worst sod busting, flower crunching, rock turning cacher is better than a true vandal and could make a simple phone call if they saw something.

 

Cemetaries are something of an attractive "nuisance" for drunk (and sober) youngsters out looking for something to do. There is just something cool about the cemetary after dark experience. Been there, done that and heard wolves baying at the moon that had to be from speakers hidden somewhere...

Edited September 17, 2009 by Renegade Knight

[+Harry Dolphin]

And, even the police cannot spell cemetery correctly!

[knowschad]

And, even the police cannot spell cemetery correctly!

 

 

That just proves that cemetery is already misspelled.

[+dakin55]

Due to the light hearted nature of the "popo" I don't think they are infering that the cachers are doing the damage but, I would think the nabours ( living of course) would tend to call the popo when they seen activity which would take up there time.

[Motorcycle_Mama]

Going into that cemetery after dark definitely illegal. And that cemetery has unfortunately also experienced a fair amount of vandalism in particular about 13 headstones and markers were severely damaged a few years ago. The other cemeteries in the city are gated and are locked at night. The area surrounding this cemetery (which is relatively large) doesn't make it practical to gate and lock it.

 

There are signs in the cemetery indicating that parking is for cemetery business only. (And before you ask, I didn't park there. I walked from somewhere else.)

 

If cachers had limited themselves to the daylight hours, they would likely not have raised any suspicion as the cache was in a crevice of a tree on the edge of the cemetery and not directly near any stones. But going into this area at night that is patrolled by nighttime security staff is/was a very bad idea.

 

And just another note that the police department is not the department in that city from whom permission would need to be obtained to get permission to hide a cache on city owned property. The correct department would be Parks and Recreation.

[+traildad]

I have a cache in a park very close to a fence of someone's backyard. I did not want people at this fence in the dark, so I stated on the cache page to not search at night. I still had to ask at least three people to change their logs about finding it after dark so it wouldn't encourage others to do the same. I was very close to pulling the cache because some people don't care or don't read the cache page.

[+HaLiJuSaPa]

I thought the police response was quite good natured. They seemed to say indirectly OK to have all those parking lot micros, etc. and that they are 'geocaching friendly'.

[knowschad]

I thought the police response was quite good natured. They seemed to say indirectly OK to have all those parking lot micros, etc. and that they are 'geocaching friendly'.

 

 

I totally concur with you. They didn't come across as authoritarian in the least to me. They were basically saying, "Just not here, guys... OK?" Nothing wrong with that.

[+Unkle Fester]

Gawd, every time someone writes POPO, I think of my 4 year old talking about - potty training issues.

 

Being in graveyards at night is illegal, harkens to laws written in the way back days when people would sneak into graveyards and dig up the bodies to search for gold teeth and jewels. No kidding.

 

Even I have been borderline on this one a couple times. Had some unsettling occurrences too. Just 'cause I'm Unkle Fester does not make me immune to Zombies...

[knowschad]

Gawd, every time someone writes POPO, I think of my 4 year old talking about - potty training issues.

 

They're not? (somebody wanna explain via PM? I'm soooo embarrassed!!!)

[+popokiiti]

Well this must be the first police department to get a smiley in the line of duty!

[+bittsen]

Well this must be the first police department to get a smiley in the line of duty!

 

Only if they signed the log and returned the cache to its hiding spot.

 

(where is the snicker icon?)

[+sbell111]

Being in graveyards at night is illegal, harkens to laws written in the way back days when people would sneak into graveyards and dig up the bodies to search for gold teeth and jewels. No kidding.

Being in that graveyard at night is illegal. It is certainly not illegal to be in any graveyard at night. Local laws apply.