Police Encourage Reporting Exes with Warrants on Valentine's Day

Departments across the US offer unique suggestions for a Valentine's Day gift.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Police departments nationwide have been urging residents to turn in their exes with outstanding warrants as a Valentine's Day gift. Departments in Massachusetts, Florida, and California have posted tongue-in-cheek messages and videos encouraging people to report their former partners with active arrest warrants, promising they will arrange a "special" visit from law enforcement.

Why it matters

The police departments' social media campaigns highlight a controversial tactic of using personal relationships and romantic grievances to aid in law enforcement. While the posts are meant to be humorous, they raise questions about the ethics of encouraging citizens to report loved ones, even if they have committed crimes.

The details

The Uxbridge Police Department in Massachusetts posted a poem urging residents to get revenge by reporting exes with active warrants. The Bradenton Police Department in Florida shared a similar post that was liked nearly 230,000 times, asking people to "help us keep our community safe while mending your broken heart." In California, the Santa Maria Police Department posted a video of an officer opening a heart-shaped box to reveal a pair of handcuffs, telling viewers to call if they were "still thinking about that ex with a felony warrant."

  • The police departments' social media posts were made in the days leading up to Valentine's Day 2026.

The players

Uxbridge Police Department

A police department in Massachusetts that posted a tongue-in-cheek poem encouraging residents to report their exes with outstanding warrants.

Bradenton Police Department

A police department in Florida that shared a similar social media post, which was liked nearly 230,000 times.

Santa Maria Police Department

A police department in California that posted a video of an officer opening a heart-shaped box to reveal handcuffs, telling viewers to call if they were thinking about an ex with a warrant.

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What they’re saying

“Roses are red, violets are blue. If your ex has a warrant, we've got something special for you.”

— Uxbridge Police Department (timesnewsnetworks.com)

“Help us keep our community safe while mending your broken heart.”

— Bradenton Police Department (timesnewsnetworks.com)

“Still thinking about that ex with a felony warrant? Give us a call.”

— Santa Maria Police Department (timesnewsnetworks.com)

The takeaway

While the police departments' social media campaigns were intended to be humorous, they highlight the controversial practice of using personal relationships and romantic grievances to aid in law enforcement. This raises ethical concerns about the appropriateness of encouraging citizens to report loved ones, even if they have committed crimes.