When lived in northern Utah there was a park just around the corner from our home. As we were pulling up one evening, I could see that a girl was sitting on the picnic table with her pants unzipped and opened, and her shirt pulled up over her bra. No one else was at the park - it was windy and cold - we were the only crazy people willing to brave it I guess that day. Once she made eye contact with me she jumped off the table and was trying to dress herself quickly. I jumped out of the car and ran over to her before she could get on her bike and ride away.
I introduced myself and tried to be casual in my approach. I asked if she lived near by and other easy 'casual' questions. I eventually asked her how old she was and what ward she was in (congregation of Mormon church). I asked her if she was meeting someone at the park - she quickly denied that and pretty much shut down. I knew enough to call the police so I told her to have a nice evening and we would see her later.
We didn't have our cell phones with us so we had to drive home to call. While on my cellphone with the police I drove to what would be her Bishop's house (in Utah these things are really easy to figure out) and told him what had happened and asked if they had the address of the girl and possibly a picture of her or her family. Some detectives came over took my formal statement later that night.
A week or so later I was walking through the neighborhood on my morning walk and I saw police tape around one of the houses. I talked to one of the neighbors to asked what had happened and she me that the police had come to the home. A man was arrested and the children were taken into custody and the police had left with a bunch of computers and other electronics.
It was that girls home. I don't know what happened to her because that family never came back.
There will always be the debate about the pros and cons of foster care - which I am sure is where she went but it's better than where she was headed that day on the picnic table.
How many neighbors saw something but didn't say something? How many people didn't say something because they didn't want to be the nosy neighbor?
Be that neighbor. Be that friend. Be that teacher. Say something.
Be willing to call the police when you see something that isn't quite right. You may feel like a tattle tail on the playground but if you don't say something who will? The police can not be everywhere all the time. If you think something is not quite right just say that - "I may be completely wrong but I just wanted to let you know I saw....(whatever it is you saw)"- and they will investigate it.
Too many children are abused and in homes where their lives are put in danger everyday. Too many children are abused period. They need our bravery. They need us to speak up and to report things because they can't. Please when you see something say something.
I introduced myself and tried to be casual in my approach. I asked if she lived near by and other easy 'casual' questions. I eventually asked her how old she was and what ward she was in (congregation of Mormon church). I asked her if she was meeting someone at the park - she quickly denied that and pretty much shut down. I knew enough to call the police so I told her to have a nice evening and we would see her later.
We didn't have our cell phones with us so we had to drive home to call. While on my cellphone with the police I drove to what would be her Bishop's house (in Utah these things are really easy to figure out) and told him what had happened and asked if they had the address of the girl and possibly a picture of her or her family. Some detectives came over took my formal statement later that night.
A week or so later I was walking through the neighborhood on my morning walk and I saw police tape around one of the houses. I talked to one of the neighbors to asked what had happened and she me that the police had come to the home. A man was arrested and the children were taken into custody and the police had left with a bunch of computers and other electronics.
It was that girls home. I don't know what happened to her because that family never came back.
There will always be the debate about the pros and cons of foster care - which I am sure is where she went but it's better than where she was headed that day on the picnic table.
How many neighbors saw something but didn't say something? How many people didn't say something because they didn't want to be the nosy neighbor?
Be that neighbor. Be that friend. Be that teacher. Say something.
Be willing to call the police when you see something that isn't quite right. You may feel like a tattle tail on the playground but if you don't say something who will? The police can not be everywhere all the time. If you think something is not quite right just say that - "I may be completely wrong but I just wanted to let you know I saw....(whatever it is you saw)"- and they will investigate it.
Too many children are abused and in homes where their lives are put in danger everyday. Too many children are abused period. They need our bravery. They need us to speak up and to report things because they can't. Please when you see something say something.
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