Parent's Comments

[KenM]

You're in a store or any other public place. You see a misbehaving/crying child and the parents see you and tell the kid "You better behave or that cop will take you away".

What's your response?

My standard is to tell the kid that's not true and we're here to help. I've also been known to tell the parent their parenting skills need work and they're terrible for telling their kid that. (may get me an *****-chewing from Sarge, but it's worth it)

[Blue23]

I totally agree with you Ken. You would hope a parent would use alittle more common sense! As far as the chew from the Sarge, I was never happy unless I received one chew a week.. http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Zim]

Got one better than that. I went to a 911 hang-up the other day and it turned out to be a 4 year old playing with the phone. I sat to kid down and tried to explain that we just came to make sure everyone was ok. After I finished talking to the boy the mother turned to him and said "If you ever do that again the police will come and take mommy away." I couldn't believe what I had just heard and took mom outside to explain why what she had said was bad. Of coarse she blew me off and went back in the house like I had just done something wrong. I can't even understand what was going through her head. Enough people hate cops all ready and now we seem to be teaching our kids to hate us to.

[klar]

I have run into that comment about the officer will take you away a few times. I have never liked it and I agree that the parents nowadays are trying to make us officers look very bad. I have two daughters and they both know that if something happens they are to first look for a police officer and have him/her help them. I know they tell their friends that oficers are the good guys so I feel that I am contributing to kids knowing that officers are their friends in the long slow way. It may not effect the masses but every one that supports us is one less to arrest.

Be safe out there.

Klar

[Sgt-E]

When I hear that comment by a parent, I like to ask the parent, Who is your child going to ask for help if he's afraid of the police? I've had more than one parent look at me and reply, Hadn't thought of that.

[Niteshift]

I get tired of hearing it too. I've taken the time to explain it sometimes, sometimes I haven't.

[the xfile]

I THINK THAT THE PARENTS OUT THERE NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF THE WORDS THEY SPEAK TO CHILDREN. ONE COMMENT LIKE THE POLICE WILL TAKE YOU AWAY IF YOU MISBEHAVE IS SIMPLY IGNORANT. I FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON WHAT THE POLICE OFFICER IS TO SOCIETY. I URGE EVERY OFFICER OUT THERE TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH OFF DUTY COMMUNITY EFFORTS. IT MAY BE SPORTS RELATED OR A BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER PROGRAM. WE NEED TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO EDUCATE THE UNEDUCATED.LET US BE THE LIFEFORCE THAT BINDS US TO OTHERS. http://www.officer.com/ubb/cool.gif

[7@NGHS]

I whole heartedly agree on the community service.

I and most of the rest of my agency are involved with the "Safe Kids" profram, especially the bike patrol. Our COPs officers are involved as well.

We also do things such as fingerprinting, bike safety, and a car seat/seat belt program not to leave out our GREAT and DARE programs.

Thanks and stay safe. http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Eddie

[Badgeman]

I've had that happen a bunch of times... I of course hate it...but don't try to undermine the parents authority... I have said I only take bad guys to jail..your not a bad guy I can tell.....I always will take time to show the kids my gun belt and what everything is and try to leave him with a good impression...

[DMS 525]

My daughter has never been afraid of the police; in fact, she will approach them and ask if they have stickers, or other such things police hand out to kids.
Does your department do such a thing? Items such as baseball or football cards, pencils, coloring books, stickers, or bookmarks? You'd be suprised of the results of officers handing out these items.
I always try to answer their questions, and perhaps answer questions about my equipment, etc.
Like the rest of you have said, these ignorant parents out there need to stop making their children think the police are the big, bad boogeymen. So many times I've wanted to smack some ignoramus aganst the wall for saying that to their kids, and tell them instead of trying to scare their kids with me to keep them in line, to work on their parenting skills instead!

[klar]

I have seen DMS 525, He is the Boogeyman. LOL. Just kidding, I had forgotten about the baseball card thing. The Des Moines Polce Dept. does this on a regular basis I do believe and it has temendous results.

Be safe out there.

Klar

[dkiefner]

Here in VT, we have the Kids and Kops program. Local LEO's have trading cards to hand out to kids - cards have LEO and University of Vermont athletes photos. Kids that collect a certain number of cards gain admission to an all-day program at the University with LEO's, athletes, games, etc. Target is primarily elementary school ages. Cops hand out cards during school visits, or a kid can approach any LEO to ask for one (they are told as long as LEO is not doing something else like traffic stop, etc. - it's OK). It's a huge annual event and very popular with kids.

We also have LE Day annually at the big local mall, where everyone comes and puts on a display for their department - kids love that as well - pet the dog, climb on the equipment, talk on the radio, boocoo handouts, etc.

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Dave Kiefner
[i]Die Wahrheit ist eine Perle. Werfen sie nicht vor die S

[GDenman]

I hate that comment and so does every other officer that hears it. I agree that it's best to speak to the CHILD immediately and trading cards or sticker badges are very good to re-inforce that positive contact.

The other one is someone bringing their kid in and wanting you to "scare the hell out of 'em". I won't do that. I will, with the parent present, sit down with the child and talk to them awhile. If there is a specific behavior problem, we may talk about it but it is done in a reasoning and soft tone with no scarey stuff. It may not always work but it's the positive contact with the police figure that has to be stressed, not the behavior. That's secondary at that point.

I've heard of some departments that won't do jail tours because they don't want to scare kids. We still do just to show the consequences of breaking the law but we emphasis it is for grown-ups and tell them what the Juvenile Detention Center has in comparison. We also only do it if there is no one in jail at the time so they won't see someone they know or hear or see thingsthey shouldn't. We have a small holding facility so we have that luxury.

Stay safe!

[DesertRat]

A jail with no one in it. What a pleasant thought. http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by DesertRat (edited 04-18-2000).]

[Tx pso]

I wish we could determine a good response for all parents that we would not have to worry about getting a chewing from upwards.

[John from Maryland]

I guess "I'll also arrest your parents if they ever mistreat you" would be out of the question.

[klar]

I guess just shooting the idiot parents is out of the question too, huh? It is a thought. Hmmmmmmm. Just kidding.

Be safe out there

Klar