Accountability in Our Children

I am angry. I am very angry. I am disappointed in the disrespectful, criminal behavior of some of our youth. And, I am disappointed in our Police Department and their failure to require accountability from those who break the law, regardless of their perceived seriousness of the event.

Tonight, while driving to the store to pick up some things for Molly's Christmas party at school tomorrow, I was startled by several loud noises on the passenger side of my car. When I turned to the right, I saw an old model gold Honda Accord with four teen-aged boys throwing things at my car from the backseat. When they saw me startle and turn toward them, they began laughing and joking with each other. This is the second time I have had something thrown at my car while driving this year. The first time caused damage to the car. If anyone had been around me at the time, I likely would have been in an accident because I swerved into the other lane. This time, I decided I would not just angrily go on my way. I was not looking to have some mischievous kids thrown in jail. But a call to a parent or a visit to the front door from an officer would've illustrated the principle that there are consequences to all of our actions. I dialed the police and mouthed to the teenagers that I was doing so. They pulled into a store parking lot and I followed and read the license plate number. I continued to follow the car as I talked with the police. They asked if the young men were still throwing things at the car. I said no, as they were aware at this point that I was contacting the police and knew their license plate number. The sergeant directed me to stop following the car and drive to the nearest police location and file a report. The police station was only about two blocks away so I drove straight there. I told the officer the information and he said he would go write up the report and return with the case number. I sat in the station waiting an hour, with only one other person in the station who chose to leave because his situation was taking so long. When the officer returned, he told me that the sergeant had directed me to file the wrong report (a road rage event). He then stated that this wasn't criminal mischief either and said all he could do was write it up as a traffic offense. I asked why this was not criminal mischief. He said it was not criminal mischief because there was not monetary damage to my car. So, I asked, "You are telling me that a young man can intend to throw things at my car while I am driving and because it happened to not cause physical damage, he cannot be held accountable for that reckless behavior?" He laughed and said, "Well, I can intend to rob a bank but unless I do it, nothing is going to happen to me." I said, "But, you didn't actually rob the bank, they actually did throw objects at a moving vehicle." He then said sarcastically, "Well, I could pull them all in here for a line up for you. Could you point them out in a line up?" I said, "I could point out the driver." He said, "Well, you told me yourself that the driver didn't throw anything." I said, "So, no one is going to find out who owns this car and atleast talk to them?" He said, "I don't know. I just write up the initial report and whatever happens after that is out of my hands." I said, "Is there any way for me to find out what has happened with the case?" He said, "I don't know." At this point, I threw up my arms and walked out of the police station.

It is not surprising to me that we are raising a generation of disrespectful youth. When a car full of teen-aged boys can throw things at a moving vehicle with the intent to scare the driver or possibly cause damage and/or an accident and then laugh hysterically when they see that they have succeeded and then not so much as have a talking-to from a well-meaning officer or have his parents contacted about the incident, I believe we have failed in a large way to teach accountability and ought not be surprised when our youth have none.

I will be writing a letter to our local paper and contacting the police department to file a complaint.