In a bizarre turn of events, the Stormwind Guard's "Pet Patrol" program has taken a new approach to law enforcement: hugging criminals. The new policy was introduced last week, and it has already caused controversy among citizens and law enforcement officials alike.
According to Sergeant Lisa Adams, one of the officers involved in the program, "We found that sometimes, all a criminal needs is a hug to turn their life around. We're not condoning their behaviour, of course, but we want to show them that we care about them as human beings."
At first, the idea of the "Pet Patrol" program seemed like a good one. Officers would be accompanied on their patrols by a variety of small pets, including cats, dogs, and even rabbits, in an effort to make the guards more approachable and friendly to citizens. The hope was that the cute and cuddly animals would help to disarm potential troublemakers and encourage cooperation from the community.
But then things took a strange turn. It seems that some of the guards started taking the idea of being "friendly" to criminals a bit too far. Instead of arresting them and taking them to jail, they began hugging them.
Some citizens are sceptical of the program, with one woman telling us, "I don't want a criminal hugging me on the street. It's just weird." Others are more supportive, with one man saying, "I think it's a good idea. Maybe it will help some of these guys get back on the right path."
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But it's the criminals themselves who are perhaps the most surprised by the new policy. One pickpocket we spoke to said, "I was just trying to steal a few coins from a merchant, and the next thing I knew, the guard was hugging me. It was a little awkward, to be honest."
Another criminal, who wished to remain anonymous, told us, "I was running from the guard, and I thought I had gotten away. But then he caught up to me and gave me a big bear hug. It was really unexpected, but it made me feel like maybe I don't have to be a criminal any more."
However, not everyone is pleased with the program. Some law enforcement officials are concerned that the new policy is sending the wrong message to criminals, and that it could be seen as condoning their behaviour. "We're not here to be their friends," said Captain Flair Pool, the head of the new pet patrol program. "We're here to enforce the law and protect the citizens of Stormwind."
Despite the mixed reactions, the Stormwind Guard remains committed to the "Pet Patrol" program and its new approach to law enforcement. So if you see a guard hugging a criminal on the streets of Stormwind, don't worry - it's all in the name of keeping the peace!