Safeguarding our children from Predators
(This article was written 4/14/2002 but not published till 1/14/03, when it was
found on file)
On March 27th, the Jennings Daily News reported that a child was almost kidnapped in a neighborhood in Jennings. It went on to discuss additional ways you can protect your children from being kidnapped.
The story was titled “Stranger Danger”, parents urged to educate children. The report failed to describe the vehicle, the neighborhood the child was almost abducted in, nor a description of the predator, nor did it describe the exact method used to attempt to lure the children. Absolutely no details were given about the incident. The report went on to say that officials with the Jennings Police Department said the best way to protect children is to educate them. We are told to educate our children yet we are not educated or provided basic information about attempted abductions.
The report stated, “Criminals often use guises such as candy, ice cream, pets or asking for directions. Special emphasis was given to the last of these by saying that “An adult should not stop and ask a child for directions; they can ask an adult.
No follow up to this story was done at any time after it originally printed. In fact, the very next day, Holli Thibodeaux was abducted from her Hathaway trailer park, by a man who, coincidentally stopped and asked for directions.
We look to institutions such as the Jennings Daily News and other media outlets as well as law enforcement to help us educate our children. We look to the so-called experts on what to do and how to protect our children. One such expert recommended that children carry whistles. This is the weakest suggestion I've ever heard. If you think this is sound advice please email me and I can go in depth as to why it is so weak. This person was interviewed in the media and was given credibility as an expert.
All we get are stories with vital information withheld for whatever reason. Law enforcement may say that “the case is under investigation and they cannot reveal those details” and this excuse is accepted by the media without question. Many local newspapers have gotten into bed with law enforcement, the lawyers, and the politicians. Journalistic integrity and getting to the core of a story is no longer pursued. The fact is a description of a person, a method used, a vehicle described does not jeopardize an investigation. What it does in fact, is jeopardize the ability of parents to safeguard their children against predators. When an attempted abduction occurs in our area and the media leaves out details of the incident, it is nothing short of “child endangerment”. I have seen similar reporting in the Lake Charles American Press and all 3-television stations.
I have asked law enforcement if the Holli Thibodeaux abduction and the attempted kidnapping in Jennings were related. The response I received was that “there is no connection whatsoever”. I accept that assessment, because they know details that I do not. Most of the details are withheld from the public. I also know what this could mean. It could mean there is another, distinctly separate child predator stalking children in the area. Other reports and rumors are flying around that other attempted abductions have occurred. Nobody has linked them so one can safely assume there are several predators stalking our children in southwest Louisiana.