CO- Fans of Naked Pumpkin Run question officers' response

11-3-2008 Colorado:

Boulder police defend citing 12 runners for indecent exposure

Fans of Friday night's annual Naked Pumpkin Run aren't happy that 12 runners were cited for indecent exposure, but Boulder police are defending their actions as necessary to maintain order.

Police rarely ticketed naked runners in past years, but the event has now grown to attract hundreds of participants, said police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley.

"We were getting concerned about the large number of participants," Huntley said Saturday. "We were very well staffed (Friday) night. We had the resources to enforce this."

Friday night marked the 10th anniversary for the event, where participants shed their clothes and streak through Pearl Street wearing only pumpkins over their heads. Officers made contact with the group organizers before the event, informing them that citations were a possibility this year.

Police Chief Mark Beckner compared the streakers to highway speeders -- police can't catch them all, but cite who they can.

"We wanted to do something before (the event) got out of hand," he said. "This was a good opportunity to enforce the law."

Still, some believed that officers should have been focused on more high-profile crimes -- such as a gang rape and assault that occurred Friday morning -- rather than citing people for indecent exposure.

"If it is 11 at night and there are no kids around, let them do it," said Boulder resident Don Leach, interviewed along the Pearl Street Mall about 12 hours after the run. "Am I in favor of people running around naked? No. But police shouldn't get too excited about it."

On Friday night, a man in a red cape climbed the pinnacle in front of the Boulder County Courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall, leading a chant with a sword. As police cited participants, costumed spectators could be heard chanting "Let them go!" and telling officers to "find real criminals."

While it is difficult to know whether Friday's police intervention will quell the number of participants in future years, Leach questions the police response.

"What is the point? It's just going to make it bigger for next year," he said.

Others share his outlook. While Boulder resident Sam Rosenberg didn't run, he believes the citations will "fuel the fire" for next year.

"I think the number of runners will continue to grow as it gains popularity," he said. "This kind of adds to the excitement and thrill of the run." ..News Source.. by Peter Dettmann, For the Camera