Naked 'Water Wars' Present Ongoing Public Safety Issue: Cops

OAK CREEK, WI -- Police in Oak Creek say a call about two naked girls with water guns in their neighborhood was a case of "water wars." Water wars, a popular springtime game Oak Creek youth play, has become at times a public safety issue.

Over the years, police calls about naked teens, reckless driving and trespassing start coming in beginning in May and lasting for about a month or so.

According to Oak Creek police reports, a resident in the 400 block of E. Parkway Estates Drive called authorities on the night of May 1, saying that there were two naked teens outside in the area.

When police responded to the area, they found the two teens each holding water guns, using them to shield their naked bodies.

When officers questioned the two teens as to what they possibly could be doing, they responded that the were playing the game "water wars."

According to reports, the two girls were promptly given their clothing back, and were transported to the Oak Creek police department for booking on suspicion of disorderly conduct.

The two teens were told by authorities that they would be cited by mail. Both girls were then turned over to their parents for the evening.

An Ongoing Public Safety Issue

About a week ago, a group of teens told police they weren't playing Water Wars games after police say they were caught in the area of Carollton Elementary School driving recklessly — with squirt guns.

According to police reports, a person who lives near Carollton Elementary School called police just after 9 p.m. on April 29 on a report that the drivers of four sedans, an SUV and a pickup truck were racing around, "doing donuts and speeding" in the area of the school while brandishing squirt guns.

A year ago in May 2018, Oak Creek police pulled over a young driver in the area of S. Shepard Ave. and E. Fitzsimmons Rd. Police say the responding officer asked the driver why he was driving so many times in the area, to which he replied, "I'd better not say, it's a school thing."
A police sergeant also responded, and spoke with the young man, who said that he was in the middle of playing a water gun game called "Paranoia," according to reports.

Why Would They Be Naked?

Paranoia involves trying to get the clothing of opposing team members wet with water - usually using large squirt guns.

If someone from another team gets another's clothes wet, the wet person is out of the game. "It's essentially a water fight involving six-person teams of students matched against other teams in a bracket-type format. This is not a school-sanctioned event," police said.

If you follow the logic of the game down its inevitable path, if a player is not wearing clothing, they are always safe, "which leads to some of the community issues that may arise," police said.

There is often a nominal prize for the winner, such as a $100 Amazon gift card. The risk might outweigh the reward, however. A disorderly conduct citation cost $375.

Related Reading

• Police Catch Oak Creek Youth Playing 'Paranoia': Report - Patch
• Teens Deny Playing Water Wars, Caught With Water Guns
• Oak Creek Police Catch Lurking 'Water Wars' Participants