The Observer Newspapers |Officer is Good Influence on Young Citizens

August 1 , 2008

Officer is Good Influence on Young Citizens

To the editor:

I would like to weigh in on a recent article that was published in The Herndon Observer ("Officer Bullies Skateboarding Children," July 18) regarding a mother's personal view of Officer Brathwaite.

I have been a resident of Herndon for over 10 years. I'm a mother of three children and also ran a home daycare business for eight years, so keeping children safe and out of harms way is a priority. As a mother, I find it hard to believe that any parent would support their children hanging out in front of a business and using their parking lot as a skating park.

I also find it frustrating when having to drive through an obstacle course of kids on skateboards when trying to park or go through the drive-through. McDonald's is not a community center or daycare facility, and it is not the responsibility of McDonald's employees to watch your children.

I find it very immature that a parent would tell their children not to patronize McDonald's because the manager had no other choice but to call the police. What kind of a message is that sending to your children?

Our town has many opportunities and activities for our children and plenty of resources to find them. And for the skate boarders, there is Fairfax and Leesburg that have magnificent skate parks. There may even be someplace here in Herndon that would provide a much safer environment than a busy parking lot with a good chance of being hit by a car.

I would also recommend getting your child involved in the Herndon Youth Academy next year. For $10 your child can take a five-week course that will teach them the laws of the community and how to be a respectful citizen. I might add that two of my children have attended this course and have gained respect and admiration for the officers that put their lives on the line every day just to keep us safe.

Officer Brathwaite administers this course and has been extremely effective in bringing our youth together and having a better understanding of why we have rules and laws. Each time we have had an encounter with Officer "G" he has greeted my children by their first name and has always asked how they are and what they have been up to.

In today's society, we are lucky to have anyone in public service that remembers us by our first name and truly cares how we are doing. I say keep up the good work Officer Brathwaite and continue teaching our children to become respectful law abiding citizens in our great Town of Herndon.

Gin Rains

Herndon