Vermont Police Targeted in Pig Prank
Inmates working at a Vermont correctional facility have played a prank on police officers by adding the image of a pig to the state decal on their vehicles.
The animal was painted onto the 16-inch car door decals that include scenes with mountains, a pine tree, and a cow. The crests were drawn by prisoners in St. Albans who also make state stationery and license plates.
A Vermont state trooper noticed the pig, which is a derogatory term for police, while inspecting his vehicle last week. The police say they believe the image has been added to about 30 cruisers over the past year.
The official crest is important to Vermont authorities, and state police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro said the prank is disheartening.
"It dishonors the memory of those past and present members, especially for those who have lost their lives in the line of duty," Dasaro told Reuters.
It is unclear who is responsible for the changes made to the decals, and the "source and timing" is under investigation.
"While some may find humor in the decal modifications, the joke unfortunately comes at the expense of the taxpayers," stated Police Major Bill Sheets.
New decals will be made this week at the cost of $780, according to The Burlington Free Press. The expense will be covered by a surplus in the revolving fund that supports the offender work program.
Many slang terms for police officers exist. Terms are also applied by inmates toward prison staff, and many are considered offensive.
Referring to police as "pigs" started in the 19th century and became especially popular during the 1960's and 1970's in the underground hippie and anti-establishment culture, according to Reference.com.
Little is known about why the animal became a slang term for police, but a past explanation claimed that the term was derived from the pigs in George Orwell's "Animal Farm."
