DeKalb police officials released a statement recently warning those who play Pokemon Go to exercise caution while involved in the game. But they faced some criticism on the message.
Pokemon Go was released about a week ago, and some stories already have surfaced about players being lured somewhere with Pokemon and getting robbed.
DeKalb Police commander Jason Leverton says the department hasn’t issued any citations from it but received about a dozen calls related to Pokemon Go. The police department shared a warning on Facebook for people to be aware of their surroundings while playing, and Leverton says people have criticized the post, saying that addressing that issue is a waste of time.
“It’s always kind of surprising to us, because it’s like, ‘Well, but our goal is to keep people safe,’” Leverton said. “And we’re not making this up – people are calling and complaining about people wandering in traffic and a kid that runs into a parked car and people loitering at night.”
Leverton says it’s no different from addressing any other public safety concern.
“It has been good to see people outdoors and people frequenting some businesses in our downtown area, for example, and we know it’s a source of fun and entertainment – which we support – but we just want to make sure people are paying attention to their walking and paying attention to their surroundings and just being safe,” Leverton said.
Northern Illinois University police say they have not received any formal complaints regarding the game. There are now more than 400 people in the Pokemon Go: DeKalb, Ill. Facebook group.
