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title: NYPD Brag About Times Square Elmo Arrest on Twitter
description: &quot;Just another day in Midtown South&quot;
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# The NYPD Bragged About Arresting Elmo on Twitter

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by 

[Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/)


## Laura Stampler


Sep 17, 2014 3:04 PM UTC

by 

[Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/)


## Laura Stampler


Sep 17, 2014 3:04 PM UTC

Earlier this week, the [_New York Post_](http://nypost.com/2014/09/12/nypd-schools-cops-on-humorous-tweets/)reported that the NYPD had been given directives on using social media: Be funny. “Tasteful humor is good,” the Twitter handbook (yes, really) said.

So to test out its Twitter schtick, the New York Police Department’s Midtown South precinct posted a photo of an arrested woman in an Elmo outfit with the message: “Just another day in Midtown South. Elmo arrested in Times Square.”

> [](https://twitter.com/NYPDMTS/status/512010640123506688)

We don’t know where exactly embarrassing someone arrested for panhandling in a sting operation falls on the “tasteful” scale, but there you go.

According to a [local ABC affiliate:](http://7online.com/news/fake-elmo-arrested-in-times-square/311807/)

---

> “”

---

There has recently been a crackdown on [costumed characters asking tourists for tips in Times Square](http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-20/not-disneyland-times-squares-costumed-characters-take-tips). Surely the NYPD’s Twitter stream will be keeping followers up-to-date if things with Hello Kitty get out of line.

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