Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Crying shame

When you've been around a few decades, you've heard about everything imaginable. But last week, this one caused me to cringe. I was on my way out to the Northeast Team Station for a meeting with Capt. Srb, when I heard Officer Mike Pratt dispatched to this call at an elementary school across town:


Mike's subsequent investigation revealed that the five year old had a very good understanding of what her parents "weed" looked like, and where it could be found. Both mom and dad were subsequently arrested for child abuse, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

While it may be unfathomable, it's not that rare. Last year, we investigated 110 drug-related child abuse cases. One of the greatest things about being a police officer is that occasionally you get to rescue a child from such circumstances.

Here's a few typical excerpts from the 2007 records:

02-08-2007 PR USED METHAMPHETAMINES WHILE PREGNANT
12-13-2007 CHILDREN IN RES WHEN PR ARRESTED FOR DEALING METH
03-30-2007 PR WAS UNDER INFLUENCE OF NARCOTICS WHILE WATCHING CHILDREN.
11-30-2007 MOM USING METH WITH CHILDREN IN THE RESIDENCE
01-13-2007 ADULT SMOKING MARIJ IN APT W/INFANTS PRESENT
02-09-2007 DIST IN FRNT OF KIDS; TOOK COCAINE EARLIER
01-02-2007 MOM STRUNG OUT ON METH KIDS LEFT WITH GRANDPARENTS
05-09-2007 CHILDREN PRESENT WHILE PARENTS CONDUCTING DRUG DEALS
06-04-2007 CHILDREN LEFT UNATTENDED WHILE PARENT DID DRUGS
08-20-2007 1 MO OLD UNABLE TO BE CARED FOR TKN INTO PROT CUSTODY
11-06-2007 RPT OF DRUG USE IN RES BY PARENTS REFUSED TO LET OFC SEARCH RES
11-04-2007 PARENT ACTING PSYCHOTIC FROM POSSIBLE DRUG ABUSE IN FRONT OF CHILDREN

Drug abuse, a victimless crime. Right.
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 9:57 AM

    Let's not forget the de facto child neglect that occurs when a low-income, child-containing household expends a significant amount of their limited resources on illegal drugs (and alcohol & cigs, those can add up too).

    "You've got a good crack rock supply, but where's the baby formula? No, skim milk isn't a good substitute. Have you got any food here at all?"

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 10:28 AM

    I get so frustrated when I hear of these situations. Why is that people who would make wonderful parents are the ones who can't conceive, yet the people who are injecting their systems with poison are able to conceive on a regular basis? I just don't get it!

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  3. Karin DalzielFebruary 12, 2008 at 11:00 AM

    I don't see this being limited to illegal drugs. I'm sure there are circumstances of parents giving kids - even very young kids - alcohol as well. When I was in HS, it was considered "cool" for parents to buy alcohol for their kids. Still not sure why parents cared whether they were "cool" or not in the eyes of their kids and teenaged friends.

    I won't go into the abuse that can happen at the hands of an alcoholic parent- I think a lot of us know someone affected by that.

    Hell, I'm of the mindset that smoking in a car with a child is a minor form of child abuse.

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  4. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM

    anon 10:28
    They spend all of their money on drugs and alcohol. They would rater get high than same some money and get a pack of contraceptives.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 2:36 PM

    http://media.lvrj.com/images/2445807.jpg

    Ok here is a test. What does he do for a living?
    What is he accused of?

    I will send the answers later.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 2:40 PM

    http://www.lvrj.com/news/15538877.html

    might makes right?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 5:56 PM

    Chief, Where do the drugs come from?

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2008 at 8:03 PM

    You are assuming he is guilty?

    ReplyDelete