64 Comments - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 12:57 pm: Was the child walking Cerberus? With the enormous caseloads faced by DCFS, how is it even possible that they sent someone up to Wilmette based on this report? - Thoughts Matter - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 12:59 pm: I’d probably do 1 because I’d recognize the girl from the neighborhood. Since they’ve lived there a while and had the dog for at least 8 months. Otherwise I’d do 2 - maybe even see if she made it home. Maybe even introduce myself to a parent. I certainly wouldn’t do 3. Unless some strange van was following her. - Colin O'Scopy - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:01 pm: Every neighborhood has a “Mrs. Kravitz”. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:06 pm: Helicopter parenting worse than the v22 osprey - SSL - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:07 pm: Someone called the police on a kid walking a dog? The world has gone mad. Or at least this country has. - Slugger O'Toole - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:08 pm: ==Unless some strange van was following her.== I know a story about a guy from that area that drives a strange van. I’d probably still call the cops. - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:10 pm: I would rather see adults err on the side of caution so, although I wouldn’t personally have chosen to call the cops, I can understand why the neighbor did. What I don’t understand is how and why DCFS got involved. - A guy - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:10 pm: Hey Uncle Lar….”is the dog ok?” - Doofman - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:11 pm: “I know a story about a guy from that area that drives a strange van.“ Does he also ride a Harley and drop his “g”s a lot? - Leigh John-Ella - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:11 pm: Maybe we should put that neighbor in charge of Veterans Affairs and the Quincy Vets Home. - Stuff Happens - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:13 pm: This stuff just grinds my gears. I know of a child who couldn’t return home from the hospital because an investigation like this had been started the day before. The hospital couldn’t release the child to a home where there was an open investigation. The investigation was unfounded, but it took 100+ days to complete (despite the 90-day limit). In the meantime, the child had to live in a foster home away from her family. The whole hotline system needs to be revamped. I’ve seen it used as retribution, as a threat, or as a tool to change child placements. - City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:26 pm: I thought only certified butlers were permitted to walk animals in Wilmette. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:27 pm: ===only certified butlers were permitted to walk animals in Wilmette=== Nope. Winnetka. /s - crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:37 pm: You do NOT ignore it because it’s Wilmette. You ignore it because it’s not against the law and you should not involve the police. - crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:38 pm: ==I would rather see adults err on the side of caution == There’s nothing cautious about inventing reasons to call the police. - a drop in - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:42 pm: “With the enormous caseloads faced by DCFS, how is it even possible that they sent someone up to Wilmette based on this report?” Because in the 1 in 100,00 change it could be something and DCFS didn’t take action, they would get blamed. Especially noticed in a place like Wilmette. I don’t know of any solution. - Cheryl - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:43 pm: I thought one of the points of places like Wilmette was the idea you would at least know the neighbors, including children, by sight. - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:45 pm: ===There’s nothing cautious about inventing reasons to call the police.=== We don’t know the caller’s intent. He/she could just be a busy body or they could’ve genuinely been concerned about an 8 year old child walking alone. Too many stories about children being hurt and adults later expressing regret for not taking action out of fear of overreacting. - Phil King - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:45 pm: Ya the caller shouldn’t have done this. But there’s no path to prevention in asking people to be better. The problem is that the government has any authority over this at all. It should be entirely up to parents when their kid is old enough to be on their own. - Payback - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:48 pm: “While police never pursued charges…” This is the essence of the modern criminal police state: every single human interaction outside your own home is viewed as possible criminal activity, and “the police” are nannies and psychiatrists who must arrive and mediate every argument over a parking space, etc. This type of garbage is why I fear the new firearms seizure law, because police, not just family members, can make ex parte complaints without the accused being present. Next, SWAT team breaks down the door and takes your guns. When did police with high school education become PhD psychologists? P.S. when DCFS shows up with a cop, they walk right into your house. End run around the Constitution, “for the children” (sob, sob). - Jocko - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:50 pm: A North Shore noseybody who sees something out of place (in this case, just barely) and can’t be bothered to investigate further? Sounds about right. I suspect Willmette cops are told to jump at the slightest provocation to keep residents happy. - RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:52 pm: So what about our 7 & 9 year old grandkids (and other kids in the neighborhood) that walk 2 blocks to and from school every day? Is that neglect also? /s - TKMH - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:58 pm: We have become a nation of tattletales, calling the authorities on petty infractions (selling lemonade without a license) and often with cruel intent (the barbecue incident in Oakland, the Midtown lawyer threatening to call ICE). It’s reflective of a society that needs to start minding its own business. As a resident of the North Shore, it needs to start here first. Sheesh. - A guy - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:59 pm: ==So what about our 7 & 9 year old grandkids (and other kids in the neighborhood) that walk 2 blocks to and from school every day?== Is it snowing, are they wearing shoes, and is it uphill both ways? lol - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:01 pm: The police likely called DCFS because they are mandated reporters and didn’t want to take a chance of getting it wrong in our lawsuit-crazy society. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:02 pm: –A North Shore noseybody who sees something out of place (in this case, just barely) and can’t be bothered to investigate further? Sounds about right. I suspect Willmette cops are told to jump at the slightest provocation to keep residents happy.– Absolutely. Call CPD about a kid walking a dog and see what happens. Nothing. –This type of garbage is why I fear the new firearms seizure law, because police, not just family members, can make ex parte complaints without the accused being present. Next, SWAT team breaks down the door and takes your guns. When did police with high school education become PhD psychologists?– LOL, try the decaf, dude. It’s a ding-dong busybody making Wilmette’s finest jump, because “muh property taxes.” - Perrid - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:02 pm: RNUG, you joke, but I guarantee there is someone somewhere who would, in all seriousness, say “Yes”. The anonymous caller might not have been from the area, might not have know the kid was a block from home. I might look twice at an 8 year old walking around alone. I’d think it’s weird and keep walking though, might consider and almost certainly decide against asking her if she was OK, and certainly would not call the cops. - crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:05 pm: ==We don’t know the caller’s intent. == I don’t care about the caller’s intent. I care about the caller’s stupid and harmful action. - Practical Politics - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:06 pm: Seriously? What a world we live in! My parents would be investigated for child neglect if they were parenting today. I was allowed to ride the CTA and attend baseball games without adult supervision while in elementary school. Come to think of it, maybe mom and dad should have been cited for child abuse or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, given the sorry state of the Cubs and Sox in those days. - 33 ward - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:07 pm: When I was a child, and it’s not that long ago, I’d regularly leave my house to go play with friends. We’d play for hours; I could easily be gone for 4-5 hours while playing. I’d say this started around age 11 or 10. The great thing about playing with friends without adults always around was the ability to learn “problem solving skills” in a social setting. I’m not sure what kind of adults we’ll have in 20 years, but I know my kids won’t have to deal with them because I don’t have any. - Responsa - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:13 pm: What utter idiocy on several levels. Good on this Wilmette parent for allowing this to be publicized. Plus, I can only imagine how I’d feel reading this article if I were a parent in areas of Chicago (or anywhere) where my own kids are dodging bullets, and finding out that police and DCFS allow themselves to get involved in Wilmette if a kid who is being taught responsibility for an animal is walking her dog around the block by herself. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:15 pm: “I suspect Willmette cops are told to jump at the slightest provocation to keep residents happy.” Nope. Actually Wilmette police are pretty laid back as are most residents. Never seen anything as ridiculous as this and I live there. - a drop in - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:16 pm: re #2: As a 60+ male, if I approached a little girl to say anything, someone would call the cops on me. - Chris - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:18 pm: Thing is, with the facts presented here, I’d say there is a strong likelihood is that the alleged “busybody” has some issue with the parent(s). And, unfortunately, elected to use the kid as the instrumentality for lashing out, most likely knowing that it would be hell for them, and exceptionally improbable that their identity would be disclosed. - Jocko - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:19 pm: ==I might look twice at an 8 year old walking around alone.== With a dog on a leash in front of her? Unless it’s the middle of a school day and she’s crying or appears lost, I doubt it. - anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:20 pm: if this was China, the mom would get a ding on her “social score,” and too many of those and she wouldn’t be able to travel or access bank accounts. Statism is not fun if you’re used to being free. Hopefully, this doesn’t escalate for the family. - RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:22 pm: In all seriousness, I understand DCFS investigating if it was brought to their attention (extended family have worked there). They have to check out any complaint. But hopefully the overworked caseworker only took 5 or 10 minutes to decide it was unfounded. Personally, if I had seen a school age kid walking a dog, I would have figured they were fine. At most, if I didn’t recognize the kid, I would have watched them until they were out of sight. - Moby - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:30 pm: When I was that age, during the summers, I would leave the house on my bike at 9am and wouldn’t be home until 5pm for dinner. Is that illegal now? - Jerry - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:38 pm: On my block, kids of a variety of ages play outside unsupervised all the time. This includes my youngest kid, who is preschool aged. My grade schooler also walks about half a mile to school, sometimes with friends, sometimes solo. The only thing that I worry about is some bad word person calling the cops. The good thing is that it’s common in the neighborhood, a bunch of kids play outside, lots of kids walk to school. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:46 pm: Germans report on children who play too loudly in parks. For some odd reason Germany has a birth rate tied with Vatican City. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:53 pm: –When I was that age, during the summers, I would leave the house on my bike at 9am and wouldn’t be home until 5pm for dinner. Is that illegal now?– No. Neither, obviously, is overreacting to one busy-body’s phone call, and parlaying it into some Gibbon-like thesis on society’s fall. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:57 pm: ===An anonymous caller had contacted police after seeing the girl walking the dog alone,=== Let me guess: was the dog black? - Moody's Blues - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 3:12 pm: Chicagoans learn in childhood about the Schuessler-Peterson murders of boys ages 11, 13 and 14./Rockford’s Joey Didier was 15, to cite another of many notorious Illinois abduction/murder cases. So as we know the benign outcome of this case and feel free to second-guess it, are we excluding the possibility that everyone did the right thing? A citizen repeatedly cautioned in the media about child safety made a phone call that didn’t blame anyone. The police checked it out and followed laws written to protect kids. DCFS, so often faulted for not taking mandated reports seriously, did the same. Massive inconvenience for the family. But every adult was looking out for the child and/or following child safety laws. - Leigh John-Ella - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 3:19 pm: White people profiled in Wilmette. Maybe we are making progress. - Zeep Bow - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:22 pm: ==When I was a child, and it’s not that long ago, I’d regularly leave my house to go play with friends. We’d play for hours; I could easily be gone for 4-5 hours while playing. I’d say this started around age 11 or 10.== Kids very much still do this…. One phone call from a worry wart in Wilmette doesn’t mean that this happens every time a kid leaves a house unsupervised. - A guy - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:26 pm: All this police action, DCFS, et al, and it was up to the mother of the potential victim to tell us the breed of the dog. /s - Archpundit - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:39 pm: ===In all seriousness, I understand DCFS investigating if it was brought to their attention (extended family have worked there). The girls were sick a fair amount and then the school secretary screwed up the excused/unexcused absences so we had a visit from a state social worker when the girls were 8 or 9. Came to find out quite a few of our friends in other cities had similar experiences. The visit itself was really quite relaxed and she was quite pleasant. She had to do a check, checked things out, found it all okay, and moved on. So, yes, DCFS might check it out, but it won’t be a big deal assuming there aren’t bigger issues they run into. - Shevek - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:57 pm: This brings to mind one of my earliest childhood memories. When I was 3 or 4 I lived half a block from a grocery store. My mom took me there all the time, so I was well known to the people at the store. I told my mom one day that I wanted to go to the store, so she opened the front door and told me to go ahead. I went to the store, said my hellos, and when i went to go home I realized I couldn’t remember how to get there. A Skokie police officer was there and the folks at the grocery store told him where I lived. The cop put me in his squad car and told me to tell him when I saw my house, which I did. He then just dropped me off back with my mom. That was it. No arrest, no DCFS. Boy things have changed! - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:08 pm: –One result of the current practice may be seen with those college students who now require “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces” for fear of exposure to reality.– Fascinating to see here how so many here can take this one goofy busybody’s phone call and magically apply it to their particular ax to grind. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:09 pm: ==Gibbon-like== Nah. Just lived it, my man. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:26 pm: ==Gibbon-like== Nah. Just lived it, my man.– Lived what? Not following. You understand I was referring to the historian, not the apes? - Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:31 pm: Kid must stepped on her grass. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:53 pm: –Kid must stepped on her grass.– It occurred to me that this might have started because the dog did its business on the lawn and the kid didn’t clean it up. - Amalia - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:02 pm: well, I guess this is a story because it involves a kid and DCFS and the burbs. there have been stories about calls to the police….911…for some really ridiculous reasons in Chicago. the police there get 911 calls that are not only not 911 calls, but 311 calls and less. there is a list a mile long of those not really police calls that waste the time of everyone who has to be involved. - West Side the Best Side - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:23 pm: If the police went right to the 8 year old’s house, Busy Body must have seen where she went after walking the dog. Come on, BB, just man up and yell directly at damn kids to get off your lawn. - DuPage Dave - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:43 pm: My guess is there is more neighbor vs neighbor stuff going on than just the kid walking the dog. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:47 pm: –My guess is there is more neighbor vs neighbor stuff going on than just the kid walking the dog.– That makes a lot of sense. Not unheard of for feuding neighbors to try and stick it to each other with the authorities. That would blow away all the “symptoms of a greater problem…” theories. - Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 7:09 pm: Dog must have done it’s business on her lawn and the girl didn’t have a proper scooper. Hanging offense, /s - Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 7:14 pm: A 7 to 10 pound powder puff dog named “marshmallow” must be a real menace to society. Wonder how many shoes it chewed up. - Payback - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 8:13 pm: “The visit itself was really quite relaxed and she was quite pleasant.” Good for you, but so what? “I was at home when the doorbell rang, the cop walked in without permission and nosed around, but he was a really nice guy about it.” Are you serious or what? Ever hear the phrase, “A man’s home is his castle?” Try reading the Magna Carta. “She had to do a check…” Is that like, the cop was just doing his job? Like when the cops hosed down the marchers at Selma? They were just doing their jobs, enforcing (then) legal segregation, according to state law, so it’s okay then? “…checked things out, found it all okay, and moved on.” So it all depends on whether the DCFS worker is a nice person, and we should just trust them and open our doors like they do on Dragnet? “So, yes, DCFS might check it out, but it won’t be a big deal assuming there aren’t bigger issues they run into.” A friend of mine had DCFS show up at his door with a Cook County Sheriff deputy because his rebellious sixteen year old daughter tattled on him. The cop saw a gun magazine on his TV table, and it went downhill from there. You have no idea what you are talking about, and you have no respect for the Constitution and the rights that our forefathers and veterans fought to give us. Very sad. - Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 8:46 pm: 8 year old girl, walking a powder puff dog must have been casing the neighborhood. Obvious mischievous thoughts of malcontent. The giveaway was no pooper scooper. - Lynn S. - Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 11:17 pm: Archpundit, you got lucky. If you have any friends or family members who are low-income or minority what a visit from DCFS means. At best, it’s a few weeks of hassle and intense stress. Many times, you wind up with a case, and depending on the level of case, your kids may well wind up in foster care while you go to court and classes “to improve your parenting skills”. (Oh, BTW, if you have a job, DCFS will sue you after your case is over to “collect reimbursement for the costs of the services provided to you and your child(ren)”. Whether you were guilty of abuse or neglect, or are satisfied with the quality of services that you had no choice in participating in, is irrelevant.) - South Sider - Thursday, Aug 23, 18 @ 8:03 am: A prime example of someone not staying in their lane. People with way too much time on their hands. - RockfordResident - Thursday, Aug 23, 18 @ 9:21 am: I sure wouldn’t do number 2. A few weeks ago, I was running in a park and saw a little girl (age 4-5) by herself standing less than a meter from a river. I asked for witnesses to observe me before I went to see if she was ok and ask her where her family was. Turns out they were nowhere nearby. Fortunately, 3 other people stayed with me the whole time. Crazy times. As a male in my 30s, I’m scared to look at a child anymore. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.