The Observer Newspapers | Officer Bullies Skateboarding Children

July 18, 2008

Officer Bullies Skateboarding Children

To the editor:

I was extremely disappointed to see an article praising Officer Braithwaite's contributions to youth in the Herndon community. Obviously he is very selective in the youth he chooses to spend time with or "establish communication with parents and children" because his treatment of the boys that skateboard in this community have not benefited from his largesse. Quite the contrary.

On my son's last meeting with this particular police officer he had 10 to 12 boys lined up in the hot sun for over an hour taking names, phone numbers and addresses and generally intimidating 13 year olds with his demeanor and manner. My son, as well as a number of his skating buddies, were so intimidated by his gruff manner that they called their mothers to witness, having seen many skateboarders victimized by officers of the law.

When I arrived, Officer Braithwaite treated me with dismissive rudeness and accused my son of mistreating a vendor and stealing soda from McDonald's. Another mother who also witnessed this treatment and I were shocked at the way our children were being treated and the rudeness with which Officer Braithwaite dismissed and brushed off our attempts to understand exactly what had transpired.

In the end, I spoke to all the boys and suggested they not patronize the McDonald's near the Kmart if this was the way the store manager would deal with them, a message they have taken to heart and now only frequent the Burger King on Elden Street, which, I am sure, is happy to have their business.

This is a further indication of what the priorities of this community are. Parents have been pushing for a skate park for many years now and nothing is being done. Rather, the Herndon community and many local businesses have made it impossible for children to be children as one little misstep results in a call to the cops.

Childhood is a time of exploration and discovery and that is what these boys do every day, they are not vandals or criminals. They are children. And Officer Braithwaite as well as the vendors that benefit from the money these boys spend locally should understand that, but sadly don't.

As far as furthering relationships between children and parents in this community, when it comes to skateboarders, nothing could be further from the truth.

Susan Brittle

Herndon