Dunedin police officers Constable Eli Stafford-Rogers (left) and Constable Jackson Jones were crowd favourites, and perhaps stole the spotlight, during a riveting round of Drag Bingo recently. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH It was unclear who got a louder applause — Dame Jacinda Ardern during the Dunedin leg of her book tour, or two local police officers who unwittingly took part in a drag act next door. On Thursday last week, Dame Jacinda and her former deputy prime minister Grant Robertson shared the stage at the Regent Theatre to each promote their respective memoirs, A Different Kind of Power and Anything Could Happen. As expected, there was a large police presence. However, two unsuspecting police officers working during the event somehow found themselves taking part in a drag act. While Dame Jacinda and Mr Robertson were on stage, a jubilant ruckus was interrupting the duo’s chat via an air vent that connected to the underground bar Mr Fox Lounge Bar. At the bar, a riveting round of bingo was being hosted by two local drag queens at an event called ‘‘Redhot Drag Bingo’’. Constable Eli Stafford-Rogers, of Dunedin, and another officer were sent next door to ask them to turn the volume down a touch. Const Stafford-Rogers said as the pair were heading downstairs, he was ditched on the stairs by the other officer, and had to head down alone. ‘‘One drag queen was dancing around while one other one was on a microphone, and the music was quite loud. ‘‘I quickly walked behind the bar and asked the bar staff to turn down the music, which they did ... they were quite helpful.’’ As he tried to discreetly make his way out, he could hear ‘‘cheering, lots of cheering’’ coming from behind him. He had come to the attention of the patrons, and was getting a raucous applause, coupled with a few remarks and requests from bingo players. It was possible they thought he may have been part of the act. ‘‘It was good to see that there was quite a bit of support there — it was packed. I was happy to be part of the entertainment really,’’ he said. Twenty minutes elapsed, and the sound levels at the bar began to creep up again. Rather than him making a second trip, police instead sent down his ‘‘best-looking colleague’’, Const Stafford-Rogers said. It was Constable Jackson Jones’ turn to head down to the bar. He asked Const Stafford-Rogers how the crowd was. He was told they were ‘‘very friendly’’. ‘‘I went down there — alone — and it sounded like a good time,’’ Const Jones said. He reached the bar, and as soon as he turned around, he was face to face with a drag queen holding a microphone. After getting a few raunchy comments he smiled and walked towards the bar. He asked the bar staff to lower the volume again, when a drag queen host said ‘‘Hello Mr Policeman’’. He also received loud applause, which was nice, Const Jones said. ‘‘It’s certainly one of the nicer feelings to feel as a cop, compared to the majority of the interactions that we get.’’ By the end of Dame Jacinda and Mr Robertson’s chat, it was unclear who got the louder applause, the duo, or the two police officers during Drag Bingo.
