ADRIAN – State Rep. Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) today denounced a new video game in which the goal is to kill police officers and urged all Michigan citizens, from parents to public officials, to sign a nationwide petition calling for a boycott of "25 to Life."
"A game that makes killing police officers fun is absolutely disgraceful," Spade said. "Our brave police officers put their lives on the line for us every day and this game is a slap in their faces. Parents must know about this game so they will not use their hard-earned money to buy it."
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is circulating a petition urging the public to boycott "25 to Life." The group's petition calls on parents and caregivers to keep children away from the game, which gives players points for killing law enforcement officers and encourages them to use bystanders as human shields. Maker Eidos began distributing the game in January.
Spade's backing a resolution calling on the Michigan House to support the NLEOMF petition boycotting "25 to Life."
To support the boycott, Lenawee County Sheriff Lawrence Richardson Jr. and Adrian Chief of Police Terry Collins joined Spade in a press conference today at Meijer located at 217 E US 223.
"For someone to come up with a video game like this is ignorant and despicable," Richardson said. "I know a game like this will lead to officers being hurt or killed. I applaud Representative Spade for taking these steps and helping us."
"I have three young grandchildren myself and when they get old enough to play video games, I don't want them to use devices that teach them how to commit homicides and kill police officers," Collins said.
In 2004, 153 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in the United States, according to NLEOMF. Around 17,000 are injured on average each year nationwide. The petition to boycott "25 to Life" can be signed at: www.nleomf.com/25tolife/.