WASHINGTON — The Murrieta Police Department has been getting a lot of attention recently for using LEGO heads to cover up the faces of suspects on arrest and booking photos on social media.
Since 2021, California has prohibited agencies from posting mug shots on social media if the person was accused of a non-violent crime.
At first, the department used emojis on faces to comply with the state law, but also began using LEGO heads as far back as November 2022.
Then, a state law took effect at the start of 2024 that strengthened the restrictions, prohibiting law enforcement agencies from posting most mugshots online. The new law still allows authorities to post mugshots on social media if a person is accused of a violent crime or if there is a threat to public safety.
"The Murrieta Police Department prides itself in its transparency with the community, but also honors everyone's rights & protections as afforded by law; even suspects. In order to share what is happening in Murrieta, we chose to cover the faces of suspects to protect their identity while still aligning with the new law," the department posted on Facebook last week.
The agency's social media strategy has made headlines across the country in recent days, but Murrieta is now reportedly planning to ditch the LEGO heads. According to ABC 7, the department recently received a request from The LEGO Group to stop using the heads because those are trademarked images. Murrieta police told the TV outlet it plans to comply with the request and will look for another option to block suspect faces.
