Cops Goof on 'Pedobear' Warning

Some California cops seem to have missed the point of 'Pedobear,' a cartoon commonly used to mock pedophiles online, writes Adrien Chen on Gawker. The well-meaning folks at San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department have issued a misguided "Guide to Pedo Bear." The colorful handout describes the bear's "licentious love of little girls" and warns that the character may be lurking at family-friendly events.

But, as Chen notes, Pedobear is an Internet meme, not a real-life sex criminal. "As much as it would make cops' jobs easier, pedophiles have not collectively decided to brand themselves with a logo so we can easily identify them," he writes. (Alas, this isn't the first occasion of a Pedobear mix-up. Click here for more.)