John Oliver Roasts Murrieta Cops And Lego In Recent Lego-Head Debacle

MURRIETA, CA—Late-night host John Oliver took aim at both the Murrieta Police Department and Lego during his opening monologue on March 31. He lampooned the use of the mini figures in police social postings and the toy company's reaction to their licensed figures being used in such a fashion.

In March, the Murrieta Police Department was asked to remove all photos that used Lego faces to obscure photos of non-violent criminals on their social media. The company expressed that Murrieta could not use the mini figures in that fashion, and the department complied in removing them.

Still, Oliver said that the request from Lego to remove the little likenesses was surprising.

Read: Hard 'No' From LEGO: Murrieta Cops Must Stop Usage Of Lego Heads

In his opening statements, he discussed the conundrum of a company that earns money from selling Lego cop-themed sets to children, not wanting its likenesses used by the police. Oliver alluded it would have instead been a good marketing ploy for Lego to partner up with the department, instead.

"That (the police were using the heads was) shocking for a number of reasons, one that they were doing it and two that Lego was mad at them because it is one of the most pro-cop toy franchises I've ever seen," Oliver said.

He went on to name several toys that reflect the company's support of the police, from Lego police stations to Lego Mobile Command Center, Police Speedboat and Crooks Hideout, and even a Lego Prison Island.

He teased that having Murrieta use the figures could have been seen as "a viral" marketing stunt," he suggested, with a laugh.

The Murrieta Police Department told Patch that it uses social media to keep citizens informed on what is occurring in the City as well as the work the police department is doing on behalf of the citizens.

"The department prides itself on being transparent with the community but also wants to be mindful of everyone's, and that includes suspects," Lt. Jeremy Durrant told Patch in an emailed statement. "To show what is happening in Murrieta, we chose to cover the faces of suspects to protect their identity."

The Lego Group contacted the department in mid-March, asking them to stop using the heads in that fashion, according to Durrant.

"We are currently exploring other methods to continue publishing our content in a way that is engaging and interesting to our followers." Murrieta Police's social media followers have supported their social stories. However, Oliver pointed out in his monologue that it is not the police's job to gain likes and followers.

By sharing social posts about all sorts of local crime and suspects "caught in the act," Murrieta Police were following the state, not showing the faces of these offenders arrested for nonviolent crimes. Though Oliver further roasted the department for wanting "likes "and follows," the department proclaims it is keeping up with residents and their need to know what is going on in their community.

Oliver's monologue does not appear on the March 31 video on the Last Week Tonight YouTube page; however, it remains visible for subscriber streaming over the Max app.

This was not the first time Oliver roasted Riverside County.

In 2023, the comedian challenged the Riverside County Social Services department for using entertainment to expand the worth ethic of those seeking help.

Then, Social Services Director Larry Townsend addressed Congress, highlighting the county's "Work Ethic-Themed Hold Music."

Townsend, at that time, told Congress that when people called social services, they would hear music touting the benefits of going to work and getting back into the workforce rather than have a human answer the line. Townsend said the message of "welfare to work," which"they captured in the song, was "a beautiful piece of music."

The album he referred to conveyed the "back to work" message using a variety of song styles, from pop to R&B to hip-hop.

“It is genuinely difficult to stop talking about this album,” Oliver said of the tracks.“What am I supposed to do? Just move on to the rest of this story and not play you the hip-hop track?

"I hate it so much," Oliver said during that March 2023 episode. "Admit it: You thought you knew how bad it was going to be. But somehow, it got worse."