Denver Police 4/20 GIF: Consume Reponsibly or "We'll Bust U Guys"

To mark 4/20, the Denver Police Department has tweeted a GIF featuring happily grooving cops and the slogan, "Have a safe and happy 4/20, Denver!" But the message that accompanies the images makes it clear that if people don't consume responsibly, "we'll bust u guys."

By Michael Roberts

April 20, 2017

Gettin' down, DPD-4/20 style. Denver Police Twitter

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To mark 4/20, the Denver Police Department has tweeted a GIF featuring happily grooving cops and the slogan "Have a safe and happy 4/20, Denver!" But the message that accompanies the images makes it clear that if people don't consume responsibly, "we'll bust u guys."

The entire message, written in questionable quasi-ebonics, reads: "We spy w/our lil [eyes], people celebratin 420 in da Mile Hi. Das ok, we dont really mind. Jus#ConsumeResponsibly or we'll bust u guys. #420Songs"

The DPD has a (recent) history of using social media on or around 4/20 to pass along supposedly hip messages themed to the date.

Here are two examples from 2015, also sent via Twitter:

Denver Police Twitter

At the same time, however, the DPD definitely hasn't sworn off arresting people who light up in public at the Denver 4/20 Rally at Civic Center Park or other cannabis-friendly gatherings.

Despite the jovial tone of the above tweets, Denver cops issued 160 citations at 4/20 events in 2015.

The number of citations could be lower this year, since the rally is taking place on a Thursday rather than a weekend. But Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson has been making the rounds on local media making it clear that officers will be out in force on 4/20 and will be enforcing public-pot-smoking rules.

By the way, the GIF is plucked from a July 2016 DPD video called "Ain't Too Cool" that is weird AF. See it following the latest tweet.

We spy w/our lil , people celebratin 420 in da Mile Hi. Das ok, we dont really mind. Jus#ConsumeResponsibly or we'll bust u guys. #420Songs pic.twitter.com/YAKw41dGcR
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) April 20, 2017

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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