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Stop calling the cops for stupid stuff

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Illinois

* While looking out your house’s window in Wilmette you see a little girl walking her dog without any adults around. Do you 1) Ignore it because this is Wilmette and the kid is old enough to walk her own dog; 2) Go outside and ask the little girl if she’s OK because maybe she isn’t old enough and could’ve wandered off; or 3) Immediately call the cops? If you chose “3″ I just cannot understand you at all…

Just after returning home from a walk around the block with her dog, Marshmallow, an 8-year-old Wilmette girl expected a visit from a playmate. Instead, police officers arrived at the family’s door.

An anonymous caller had contacted police after seeing the girl walking the dog alone, said her mother, Corey Widen. While police never pursued charges, the seemingly common activity launched an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigation to see if Widen was neglecting her children, she said.

“For something like this to happen to me, there’s something really wrong,” said Widen, 48, who agreed to let her 8-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son get the Maltese puppy last year as long as everyone took turns walking her. Widen, who asked that her daughter’s name not be used, said the girl’s walk around the block — most of which Widen says she can see out her windows — is the only time her home-schooled daughter is unsupervised. “The funny thing is … I’m a joke with my friends because my kids are around me all the time.” […]

Like in many states, the law in Illinois is vague. It defines a neglected minor as a child younger than 14 left “without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety or welfare of that minor.”

But DCFS investigations are separate from criminal ones; even if police decide a parent has not broken the law, there could still be child welfare repercussions.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 12:50 pm

Comments

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?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 12:57 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.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Every neighborhood has a “Mrs. Kravitz”.

Comment by Colin O'Scopy Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Helicopter parenting worse than the v22 osprey

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:06 pm
Someone called the police on a kid walking a dog? The world has gone mad. Or at least this country has.

Comment by SSL Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:07 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.

Comment by Slugger O'Toole Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:08 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.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:10 pm
Hey Uncle Lar….”is the dog ok?”

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:10 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?

Comment by Doofman Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Maybe we should put that neighbor in charge of Veterans Affairs and the Quincy Vets Home.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:11 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.

Comment by Stuff Happens Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:13 pm
I thought only certified butlers were permitted to walk animals in Wilmette.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:26 pm
===only certified butlers were permitted to walk animals in Wilmette===

Nope. Winnetka. /s

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:27 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.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:37 pm
==I would rather see adults err on the side of caution ==

There’s nothing cautious about inventing reasons to call the police.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:38 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.

Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:42 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.

Comment by Cheryl Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:43 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.

Comment by Cubs in '16 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.

Comment by Phil King Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:45 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).

Comment by Payback Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:48 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.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:50 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

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:52 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.

Comment by TKMH Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:58 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

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 1:59 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.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:01 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.”

Comment by wordslinger 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.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:02 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.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:05 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.

Comment by Practical Politics Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:06 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.

Comment by 33 ward Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:07 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.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:13 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.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:15 pm
re #2: As a 60+ male, if I approached a little girl to say anything, someone would call the cops on me.

Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:16 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.

Comment by Chris Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:18 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.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:19 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.

Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:20 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.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:22 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?

Comment by Moby Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:30 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.

Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:38 pm
Germans report on children who play too loudly in parks. For some odd reason Germany has a birth rate tied with Vatican City.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:46 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.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:53 pm
===An anonymous caller had contacted police after seeing the girl walking the dog alone,===

Let me guess: was the dog black?

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 2:57 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.

Comment by Moody's Blues Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 3:12 pm
White people profiled in Wilmette.

Maybe we are making progress.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 3:19 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.

Comment by Zeep Bow Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:22 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

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:26 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.

Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:39 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!

Comment by Shevek Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 4:57 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.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:08 pm
==Gibbon-like==
Nah.
Just lived it, my man.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:09 pm
==Gibbon-like==
Nah.
Just lived it, my man.–

Lived what? Not following.

You understand I was referring to the historian, not the apes?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:26 pm
Kid must stepped on her grass.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:31 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.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 5:53 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.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:02 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.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:23 pm
My guess is there is more neighbor vs neighbor stuff going on than just the kid walking the dog.

Comment by 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.–

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.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 6:47 pm
Dog must have done it’s business on her lawn and the girl didn’t have a proper scooper. Hanging offense, /s

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 7:09 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.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 7:14 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.

Comment by Payback Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 8:13 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.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 8:46 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.)

Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Aug 22, 18 @ 11:17 pm
A prime example of someone not staying in their lane. People with way too much time on their hands.

Comment by South Sider Thursday, Aug 23, 18 @ 8:03 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.

Comment by RockfordResident Thursday, Aug 23, 18 @ 9:21 am