My IM box has been a buzzing lately with all kinds of talk and points of view on what and how and where and who and why the HPD should act when it comes to criminal actions. In the Crack Den the HPD have always been know as the 'Biggest Gang in Town'.

Some people might think that title alone is enough to invite all kinds of folk who will use the HPD as a means of committing crimes, much like a gang would. However usually these crimes appear to go above and beyond and have no or little consequence.

I have a view on the subject of the HPD committing crimes and so do my friends. So, without further ado and without naming names I shall go on to explain my view.

Criminal activity in the real world tends to involve selling drugs from the evidence locker, or just plain selling drugs. Extorting money out of criminals for favours and even sometimes not following up on incident reports as a favour to some dodgy people.

Now I play a pretty vanilla character, she rarely gets into trouble of her own and is sweet as a peach. My main reason for this is because I want to be enticed into role play, not just be slotted into it. For me the idea that so many police officers can be sexually assaulting and torturing people that it's caused so much talk is a little worrying.

The Police should be there to help victims of those kinds of crimes. At least that is how it would be is The Crack Den was a real living thriving city. Where is the enticing idea of a Police officer just plain being evil? There isn't one, unless you have a fetish which is all fine and dandy but not what I'm on about.

When should the folk of the HPD suffer IC consequences for their actions?

I have been partaking in some role play with a HPD officer and it is of that extreme nature that a lot of people go -uhm how do they still have a job?- But I am here to tell you I was enticed into it, there was an ingenious entrance into the role play and a horrifying back storey as for the reasoning. What's more there was clear communication and clear planning.

It was organised and role played out in such a manner that realistically my character more the Police would find out that in fact this member of the HPD would be caught. It was intelligently played out and I think. That is fair. To have put forethought into your role play is a very important thing for anyone, especially when you might be hitting hard limits.

During this role play I was in another conversation with a friend and he asked me some hard questions that I thought needed to be asked. So I asked them of this HPD Role Play partner of mine.

This is what ensued and I did indeed get permission to use this conversation.

THEM : As HPD, we have to ask people permission to get involved

THEM : If criminals can say they don't want to get caught

THEM : That reflects poorly on them as RPers

THEM : But we don't catch them

THEM : Which should be the same for the HPD

THEM : It reflects poorly on the players

THEM : But at the end of the day, if it's going ruin their RP or something then *shrugs*

ME : In turn though, would you say it reflects poorly on you as a role player that you don’t want to get caught?

THEM : Sure

THEM : If I was a more creative role player, I’d find things to do which would stop me from getting bored enough to have to have [my character] kidnap someone or seriously harm them in a situation where he might get caught

THEM : If I was a more fair and/or realistic one, I’d recognize that he would get caught and should get caught and would either avoid this kind of RP or accept that he should lose his career(s)

THEM : People have limits because it would limit their RP, or seriously change their character, right?

THEM : For instance, why do most people say they don't want their character to lose a limb?

ME :Because it would affect the way their character moves, and partakes in daily life

THEM : Essentially, it would significantly limit or affect their RP, right?

ME : In the same way losing ones job would

ME : Or being convicted of a crime

THEM : ((also you can use this entire chat on the forums if you want, just take my name out))

THEM : exactly

THEM : So therefore

THEM : I feel like, though unrealistic (as unrealistic as a victim in RL telling their torturer not to cut their leg off and having the torturer abide by that wish), people should have the ability to have losing their job as a limit

THEM : Especially in this case, since he'd lose two major jobs

THEM : 90% of my RP is not around [my character's] criminal activity (which is minimal) but around his involvement in [their other jobs]

THEM : (by minimal I mean virtually non-existent)

ME : I am really glad I asked you those questions

ME : Thank you for being so honest

THEM : Does what I’m saying make sense though?

ME : It does indeed

THEM : I understand that people want cops to be accountable for their actions just like any other character would be. I’m not saying people can't, or shouldn't, retaliate against cops. at all. and I’ve let people try to kill [my character]several times for what he's done to them - both actions sanctioned by the HPD and that he did while off-duty - without any limit except for death or arrest. those are my ONLY limits.

THEM : retaliation is good, and necessary. it would be completely unfair - it would be power gaming - to do something and say that the other person's character couldn't retaliate. this is saying "you can retaliate, within these limits, just as you had limits when my character was attacking you"

and, what's more

I try to let people know before I begin that that's my limit. occasionally I’m not explicit, and that's something I’m trying to do better, to prevent misunderstandings, but I do try to be forthwith with my limits, and the fact that I don't want [my character] getting arrested as a result of something.

So that is the conversation and it's really only based around one of the role players in the HPD. There could be more with the same or similar views. I have to admit that after speaking with him, I did come to understand his views. if us regular role players can say "Hey! I know I just murdered someone but I don't want to be caught." Why can't the HPD?

There are some obvious points about realism brought up and how we all break those points sometimes. So maybe, like this person I role play with, do it once in a blue moon, plan ahead and try to make it at least semi realistic.

What are your views and opinions?

Also! Don't slander! Don't rave! Be adults and have a friendly conversation about a group, who lets face it, help make CD a fun place to role play even with the foibles involved!