'Hide and Seek with a Cop' Halloween Event Triggers Hundreds of Internet Jokes: 'Can Criminals Play?'

An Oregon police department's Facebook invitation to its Hide and Seek With a Cop Halloween event drew both criticism and praise from social media users.

The Sherwood Police Department promoted its "new community event with a virtual invitation that read, "It's basically your only chance to run from the cops without consequences!" Anyone 12 years of age and older are invited to participate in the two-hour event.

Participants will have to sign a liability waiver. Then, during the event, police officers will be in uniform and armed while they chase and tag participants in a wooded park, Oregon Live reported.

When asked about the risks associated with officers remaining armed throughout the event, Public Information Officer Paul Mattson III told Oregon Live their guns will "be in their holsters like they normally would, just like if we were chasing a suspect."

He added, "Events like this build those relationships and humanize us as an agency and as officers," and it would defeat the goal—to help community members overcome their fear of interacting with officers—if they weren't in their full uniform.

Hundreds of Facebook users shared their thoughts about the event.

One user commented, "Fleeing and eluding without consequences? I'm in," while another asked, "Can criminals play?"

Another quoted the event details, writing, "'It's basically your only chance to run from the cops without consequences!' That depends on how good you are at it."

While one Facebook user questioned parents' sanity if they allow their children to participate.

"Who in their right mind would sign their children up to be chased by armed and dangerous cops for 'fun?'"