I was in the Safeway awhile back, on duty and in uniform. I was getting a sandwich when I noticed a kid making quite a bit of noise. He might have been four or five years old. This kid was having a fit for some reason and mom could not get him to chill out. What mom said next really torqued me off.
"You better stop or I'll have the policeman arrest you."
I mean, really! WTF mom? Do you really think it's appropriate to tell your child I'm going to arrest him for crying? What is this poor kid to think? He looked at me like I had six heads and I was about to eat him. He stopped crying, but only because he was clutching mom's leg and staring at me in horror.
I really hate it when people do that. These are going to be the kids who don't call the police when someone takes their bike. They will think I'm going to come and arrest them for getting their bicycle stolen.
My kids know that if they are EVER in trouble, they can ALWAYS talk to a police officer. Even if it's not me. A police officer is supposed to be a safe place, right? Not a monster to threaten your kids with.
It is not often I feel the need to lose my place in the lunch line, but this was one such occasion. I took a badge sticker out of my shirt pocket and walked over to them. I took a knee and handed the badge to the kid. I told him I was deputizing him, and that meant he had to be good and listen to mom. Ya' know what? He grinned at me and didn't cry anymore.
If looks could kill, that mom would be cold and stiff from the glare I gave her before I turned and walked away.
Thanks a whole freakin' lot mom.
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9 comments:
Shame on her.
No kidding!! Shame on her!!!
It is parents like that that actually cause children to grow up hating police and other figures of authoriy.
I like that. I have seen this many times. I'm also an Officer, and I hate it when parents use me as some sort of scare tactic on their kids. I don't think parents realize what they are doing, but I sure wish they would think about it first.
That must have sucked, but good job thinking on your toes and "deputizing" the kid. Hell, if I were in line, I'd let you right back in.
That kid might have been on meth, in which case you should have arrested him, or at least scared him...
I've heard parents say that before. I usually tel the kid "No, I won't arrest you for crying, but I do arrest people for being crappy parents".
Hey, I know what you mean, the poor kids are frantic and the parents are laughing. I just give them the look like I would love to knock you out.
I've posted about this one, too. I hate it when they bring their kids up here and want us to "lock them in a holding cell to teach the a lesson". Let's just throw them in there.
way to pass off the responsibility there mom. TheBronze said...
I've heard parents say that before. I usually tel the kid "No, I won't arrest you for crying, but I do arrest people for being crappy parents".
Damn!
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