How Safe, Really, Can We Keep Our Children?
In light of developments in the 1984 Tina Faelz case, Patch Columnist Cameron Sullivan remembers her own youth in the 1980s and reconsiders how to protect children from harm.
On April 5, 1984, I was 15 years old, going on 16. I was a busy high school sophomore, well-liked but not popular; awkward in that typical teenage way; not unattractive, but not the kind of girl guys would give a second look.
Two thousand miles away, Tina Faelz was 14, going on 15.
On our walks home from school, she from one side of the freeway in Pleasanton to the other, and I from Winnetka, Ill., to the neighboring town of Kenilworth, neither of us could call home if we left a little later than usual or made a slight detour.
There was a window of time in which a child was expected home. Half an hour on either side of 3 p.m. allowed me time for a study session, a trip to the library, a milkshake at the local ice cream shop, or a chat with a friend. If my mom was out on an errand, I might arrive home and finish an hour of homework before she returned, thus widening the time-frame to two hours.
No one worried.
But the apparent end to the 1984 Tina Faelz homicide case this week forced me think twice.
Only in the past six months have I begun to let the leash out for my middle school-aged children. The kids still have restrictions and guidelines. And across the board, these guidelines are stricter now than they were when I was a teenager.
As parents in this era of information, we have a tendency to think that children are at greater risk now more than ever because of the Internet and the continuous information stream.
We are not mistaken in our thinking; due to cyberspace, bullying and other crimes against children have escalated to levels we couldn’t have imagined when we were coming of age.
But when stories such as the Tina Faelz tragedy are brought to the forefront, I’m forced to wonder about statistics of crimes against children:
Are children in greater danger now than in the 80s, given modern technologies and the continuous cycle of information? Or are the crimes similar, but we are now more aware, given the continuous media stream?
On Apr. 5, 1984, two hours after I walked one of my three possible routes home from school, Tina Faelz’s family mourned their daughter’s mysterious, tragic death by brutal stabbing.
Meanwhile, kids across the country that day walked home through suburban environments similar to Tina’s. I had walked alone, just like Tina.
I either passed under the lowering gates of the commuter train tracks, or dodged around the cement supports of the viaduct down the hill from school, or cut through an empty field and ran along the tracks to get to the ice cream shop a few blocks from my house, despite police warnings to the contrary – the same kinds of warnings Pleasanton police gave Foothill High kids who used the old culvert under Interstate 680 when walking home.
My walk home through Chicago’s version of suburban serenity was not without risk. But people didn’t worry. It’s the way things were.
Of course, I heard lectures about running to the closest house for help if I felt uncomfortable around a stranger, and I was firmly instructed to leave a note if I changed my plans.
So, surely, was Tina Faelz. Tina’s mom, according to a Pleasanton Weekly article published in 2008, kept lines of communication open with her daughter.
But it turns out, according to the latest information related to this week’s arrest in Tina’s case, that Tina was killed by someone she knew.
What then? How does a parent protect a child when directives to keep personal information private and not speak with strangers don’t apply?
What are the best ways to protect children and still allow them to spread their wings?
We talk; we listen. We support each other; we look out for each other’s children. We look for the inherent good in people, but we hope that our law enforcement can either detain persons who may be dangerous to children, or lock up offenders and prevent them from hurting others, as happened this week in Pleasanton.
And we remain vigilant as communities; we stick together and support each other without blame or judgment.
Glenn Adams
9:04 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ncic/ncic-missing-person-and-unidentified-person-statistics-for-2010
As of December 31, 2010, NCIC contained 85,820 active missing person records. Juveniles under the age of 18 account for 38,505 (44.9 percent) of the records and 10,248 (11.9 percent) were for juveniles between the ages of 18 and 20. *
Over 100, 000 total missing/murdered in the USA- "The silent Epidemic"
Wolfscratch
Cameron Sullivan
10:38 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thank you for the statistics, Glenn. Sobering, indeed.
Michael Austin
9:07 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Cameron,
The culture at foothill during Tina's freshman year was bullying, alcohol and drugs. I would like to think that since Columbine, the bullying has been addressed. However, apparently replaced with Cyper bullying. Alcohol and drugs continue to be the culture at foothill. I assume PUSD has programs in place to address this, but obviously not successfuly. Elemetary students are exposed to drugs and take the drug experience into highschool with them. Then there are elemenatry students that are drug free and are exposed or come under the influence of drugs after entering hgihschool. PUSD requires all students to provide Whooping cough documentation before admission, why not add drug screen to the list of admission requirements for admission to school and on going drug screen druing the year for students whom have behavioral problems?
Michael Austin
Glenn Adams
9:52 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
YW, Cameron Sullivan
As a father & gfather, & retired fire captain Atlanta, GA, public safety is very important to me. It seems obvious that the missing/murdered cases has overwhelmed law enforcement & the Justice System. As Michael Austin stated above, musc can be attributed to the drug issue, specifically meth. I have done extensive research on this and the conclusions point to this.
Many Law Enforcement Agencies seem to be squandering a very valuable resource in missing persons investigations; 'the American public' via the media & internet social networks.
As in the Tina Faelz case, many of the predators are recidivist and remain stealth and at large, preying on unsuspecting innocent victims for decades due to antiquated investigation strategies of silence & missinformation.
Thank heavens for DNA technology advancements & DNA laws & databanks.
Wolfscratch
Glenn Adams
9:56 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Awareness is the key...
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33436827/ns/today-parenting/t/how-protect-kids-predators-kidnappers/
How to protect kids from predators, kidnappers
Clint Van Zandt shares tips to help children shield themselves from danger
Wolfscratch
Glenn Adams
10:01 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
'Journey backtracking and researching a sexual predator'
http://cheryldunlap.bigboardlive.com/t8-gary-michaelmack-hilton-sadistic-malignant-psychopathic-serial-killer
Wolfscratch
Cameron Sullivan
10:11 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thank you Michael. You both bring up valuable topics for follow up and public education of parents and children on issues about safety. Thank you for participating in this discussion on Patch. .. I have a feeling this discussion is just beginning!
Cameron
Cameron Sullivan
10:12 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thank you, too, Glenn... I meant to include you with my thanks to Michael, above! I particularly like the lists in the "Today" link you provided.
Glenn Adams
10:47 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Cameron, many abductions happen in rural areas for various reasons. Due to budget cutbacks, large areas with few Law Enforcement personnel, jurisdictional communication issues, etc., a preabduction or plan of action must be initiated prior to an abduction. Time is of the essence..
A preabduction plan is simply a plan of action that is prepared in advance of an abduction. The plan would cover various scenarios and all participants would be given specific tasks or missions to perform once an abduction occurs and the plan is iniated.
An Amber Alert or Levi's Call, is an example of iniating a plan of Action in an abduction of a child.
(continued)
Glenn Adams
10:48 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Corporations and Private Companies such as Walmart and Sears, have a preabduction plan that is iniated once an alert is sounded.
A 'Pre Abduction Plan' which includes Mutual Aid from neighboring Jurisdictions and adjacent States and utilizing all resources: Sheriffs Depts, State Troopers, GBI, FBI, DEA, Fire, DOT, DNR, the Public via the media(A Free Resource) is a start to preventing or containing tragic stranger abductions in the future.
http://childabductions.org/fbi.html
Due to financial restraints and large geographical jurisdictions, most rural areas lack the Law Enforcement resources compared to urban areas. Communications and team work(mutual aid) is critical for a preabduction plan to be effective.
There are many resources available for rural LEAs at little or no cost:
The FBI can provide your agency with a copy of the FBI's Child Abduction Response Plan (CARP) to assist your agency in developing a pre-planned response. ...
Wolfscratch