Police Memorial Fund Protests 25 To Life

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, an organization set up to raise support for law enforcement and help make enforcement safer, has protested the release of Eidos' 25 To Life, a game in which players can control either an officer or a gang member against the other side. The NLEOMF is calling for retailers not to stock the title, and for consumers not to purchase it. "It is absolutely unconscionable that game makers are enabling young people -- or anyone -- to dramatize shooting and killing as a form of entertainment while officers and innocent people are dying in real-life on our streets every day," said NLEOMF Chairman Craig W. Floyd. "We're encouraging parents, caregivers and everyone who is concerned about both law enforcement officers and children to ensure this game never makes it into the homes or hands of impressionable young people." The NLEOMF is hosting a petition at its web site for those who agree with its cause to sign; the eventual goal is to get 17,500 signatures, one for each officer whose name will be engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial when it opens at the end of 2006. "We're focused on this game right now because children and communities are facing the greatest threat from it right now, but our broader goal is to encourage all parents and caregivers to be more aware of what their children are exposed to or encouraged to emulate," added Floyd. "Any type of media that glorifies violence against law enforcement or civilians should be scrutinized very carefully." Also supporting the boycott of 25 to Life has been the gaming press, giving it an average GameTab score of around 40%. "Moving to a new generation provides a good time to take stock of what's gone wrong and what's gone right in the past five years of gaming, and every time we upgrade, there are always things that need to be left behind," said 1UP.com's Andrew Pfister. "25 to Life is one of these things."