Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
The police in Charlton, Massachusetts, are very proactive when it comes to children. Why the other day, they visited a 5-year-old girl to scare her straight. Her horrible crime that required armed men of the law to come to her home?
A Charlton mom says her local library crossed the line when they sent police to collect her daughter's overdue library books.
As President Obama likes to say, "Government's just a word for things we do together." Like cause little girls to burst into tears and ask their mommy if they're going to be arrested. Even the police sergeant who was tasked with rounding up little Hailey Benoit says he wasn't too keen on the operation and thinks it could have been handled better. The family, for what it's worth, says they would have been fine with receiving a written notice first that the books were overdue.
Maybe you're worried about the growing police presence that goes after 5-year-olds for a couple of library books. But let's just stop and consider things for a minute.
My girls, who are back to their typical delightful selves, were awful yesterday. I might not have minded a well-timed visit from the local sheriff yesterday around 5:30 PM. Maybe this could be a money-making scheme for cash-strapped local law enforcement. Maybe Charlton, MA, shows us the upside to a police state.
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Jan '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
The librarian issues orders to the police? That's a heck of a powerful librarian.
Apr '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
It's got to be disheartening to be a cop. You train so that you can be a crime-fighter, then get sent to do stuff like this or hide in the bushes alongside a road where the speed limit is 20 mph too slow, hoping to catch your quota of speeders.
Aug '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Did they have a warrant from a judge?
If not, the family shoulda told the police officer that they do not consent to a search of the home.
If yes, then that's one mean ol' judge!
Oct '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
When I see the lack of respect that young people have for the police I am sorry to say I kind of get it. My now 17 year old son has had more conversations with police than I have in my entire life - and he doesn't even drive yet. Most conversations are along the lines of : where are you going? Where are you coming from? But many have crossed the line of civility. And at the age of 14 he and his back pack were searched without me being notified. When my daughter was in a car late at night the driver was pulled over for suspected drunk driving. When she blew 0.0 the cop didn't say: good job, it's late, get home. He said: I'll get you next time. My neighbor has lost his home because he had the audacity to drink a beer on his front lawn. Unfortunately, he let the cops in the front door, they noticed some questionable work he had done on the interior, inspectors were called and the place condemned within days. Almost everyone I know has a similar story. All this in a small middle-class town near Pasadena CA.
Dec '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
That's right everybody. We librarians have a police force and they are coming for you! Of course, if the issue is anything other than money that you owe us, we really think that the cops are heavy handed fascists.
May '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Elementary school students with ibuprophen or a butter knife packed in their lunch are prosecuted under "zero tolerance". Little boys who kiss little girls or remark that their teacher is pretty are "sex offenders" even in California, where they must now learn in school to revere homosexuality by order of state law. Now a child's overdue library books are cause for armed police action. Those convicted of violent assault or property crime seem to be set free to offend the helpless again and again. Citizens of different ethnicities and illegal aliens are equal, but some are more equal than others. We have surely gone mad.
How long until all respect for law collapses as a result of these increasingly bizarre edicts, and "mere anarchy is loosed upon the world?"
Mar '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Must have been an awfully slow day at the station for the chief to delegate that down....
Aug '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZHoHaAYHq8
Mar '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
When a local storefront was recently empty, my wife and I entertained the notion of renting it for a day, putting up a big "Kids for Sale!" sign up, and having a bunch of kids in the window wearing "Pick Me!" placards. Maybe throw in a "Trade-Ins Welcome!" and "We take returns: No kid too bad" sign.
Then charge other parents money to drive past with their kids in the car. I reckon there is a market in it.....
Jul '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Let me make this perfectly clear. Never talk to the police in any situation outside of being pulled over and then be minimalistic. If they come to your house ask for a warrant and absent that, do not talk, do not let them in, ever. For a 30 minute video as to why, YouTube "Do not talk to the Police". This comes from a prosecutor who details numerous pitfalls from having seemingly innocent interactions with law enforcement.
Aug '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
I've watched the Do Not Talk To The Police video before, and it's great.
These videos are also excellent: 10 Rules For Dealing With Police, and Busted: The Citizen's Guide To Surviving Police Encounters.
The only problem I have with these videos is that they don't provide advice on how to protect yourself if you witness a crime and you want to come forward. Do you retain a lawyer, at your own expense, to represent you before you give a statement to police? Expensive.
Edited on Jan 3 at 12:02pmApr '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
It's a shame. How many decent, honest people have come to regard police as their adversaries instead of their allies? When lawmakers pass unreasonable laws, it lowers the regard that people have for all laws. When enforcing stupid laws, the cops often get the blame, instead of the legislature or the city council that passed them.
Jul '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Believe it or not, we get calls like that with some frequency.
The problem with those "Don't Talk to the Police" videos is that they only present half the story. To be sure, talking to the police can be risky, especially if you're actually guilty of something. What the lawyers (and they are almost always lawyers) who make those videos ignore is this: while plenty of people get hemmed up by talking when they could legally have said nothing, there are also a lot of people who, while initially suspected of something, give a reasonable explanation of their actions and are let go. Those stories, while common, don't make it to YouTube videos.
Aug '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
<devil's advocate mode = on>
Still, there's no harm in waiting until you have the advice of a defence lawyer before providing that reasonable explanation, is there?
It's not really about never talking to police, but simply making sure you have some sort of legal counsel before talking to police.
<devil's advocate mode = off>
That being said, I agree that these videos can be a little alarmist and anti-police in their tone.
May '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Your comments remind of an experience I had years ago. My friend and I were driving back to Texas after recording some music with our old drummer in Ohio. My friend was driving when he woke me up and said we had been pulled over for speeding. It was night and there was plenty of musical equipment in the back seat of my car.
The state trooper asked my friend to step out of the car, as it standard procedure. At some point while talking to the trooper, my friend put his hands in his pockets, realized he had a pocket knife and considerately informed the officer. The officer responded by telling my friend to put his hands on the car and patted him down.
Later, the trooper walked over to talk to me through the passenger window. I was still half-asleep. I told him we were driving back from recording with an old bandmate. He then asked to search my car. I refused, saying we were eager to be home and it would be a waste of time.
The trooper accepted that response. But my friend thought it stupid to ever refuse a search. That's worrisome.
May '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
I have had favorable interactions with policemen, though. There is a problem emerging in the general relationship between police as political enforcers and citizens. But there are still plenty of good apples.
In my experience, the relationship between citizens and police is best when each makes an effort to keep in touch before and between crimes (i.e., when they act together as neighbors).
May '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Misthiocracy
It's not really about never talking to police, but simply making sure you have some sort of legal counsel before talking to police.
It depends on the circumstances. Lawyers are expensive. I imagine few people hire them until they are absolutely certain a lawyer is needed.
Jul '11
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Wyler Coyote, I have had dozens of encounters with the police stemming from a malignant ex wife with borderline personality disorder quite resentful of my custody of two kids. I maintain my stance and the money I spent on lawyers would seem well worth the accusations of narcotics trafficking, attempted murder, rape, child endangerment (ironic since that is why I had custody),and peeling the mattress tags off. This was a decade ago and life is better now. Your point is well taken but I have no trust in the integrity of authorities. I've seen many innocent people go to jail. I'm glad I was not one of them.
Edited on Jan 3 at 2:30pmJul '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
Oh, not at all. But circumstances will dictate.
I think you and I have different scenarios in mind, actually. You seem to be talking about a situation where someone is brought to the station (or asked to come in) and give a statement. I'm thinking more of someone sitting in a car outside a warehouse in an industrial district, or someone accused of shoplifting in a store. More immediate, street-level stuff, where consulting with a lawyer beforehand wouldn't be practical.
Jul '10
Re: Can The Police Get My Children To Tidy Up?
DocJay: Wyler Coyote, I have had dozens of encounters with the police stemming from a malignant ex wife with borderline personality disorder quite resentful of my custody of two kids. I maintain my stance and the money I spent on lawyers would seem well worth the accusations of narcotics trafficking, attempted murder, rape, child endangerment (ironic since that is why I had custody),and peeling the mattress tags off. · Jan 3 at 2:15pm
No, I understand, and in your circumstances, a person would have to be a fool not to have legal advice and counsel. The advice the videos give can be useful and accurate, but sometimes can get you in trouble if you aren't careful. My problem with them isn't their general point, but rather the absolutism they tend to present.
I'm glad to hear the situation is better now for you and your kids.