Loud Kids and Loud Clothes
Previously in this blog, I have talked about Milton's new Neighborhood Watch program. Well, I can now report from personal experience that the program is working.
It started as a quiet Saturday night in Milton. My wife and I strolled over to the Milton House to take a “twilight tour,” viewing the inside of the historic landmark by lamplight. After the tour – and some terrific food and wine samples by local vendors – my wife and I settled in for a relaxing evening at home.
Our plans changed at about 8:30 when my daughter called to ask if she and some friends could come over and hang out in our rec room. A half-hour later, we found ourselves hosting a group of teenagers, me playing Guitar Hero with them while my wife did her best June Cleaver, baking a pizza and popping popcorn.
It wasn't a huge group, with kids coming and going a few times, as teenagers will do. Being responsible parents, we decided that one of us should stay up and monitor the proceedings, and I drew the short straw. It was pretty easy duty, basically listening to them play Guitar Hero and ping pong while under the influence of an incredible amount of sugar and carbohydrates.
At about 11:30, there was a knock at the front door. A trio of teens had left the house about 15 minutes earlier, so I presumed they were returning. Instead, there was a member of the Milton Police Department wishing to speak to me.
Someone had called the police with a noise complaint. The caller said young people were creating a ruckus in the neighborhood, apparently with some yelling and swearing involved. Seeing the cars parked in front of our house, the officer asked if there was a teen party going on here.
Why yes, there is, officer, the surprised father responded. The policeman looked me up and down, trying to determine if a responsible parent would really be wearing a Hawaiian shirt, khaki Boy Scout pants, and black-and-white checked Vans. At this point, a second squad pulled up and another officer joined us. I'm not sure if it was because of the noise complaint, or to determine if the way I was dressed was the real crime. It's possible my clothes were louder than the kids.
I told him that I certainly hadn't heard anything, and didn't think anyone in this group would have been doing that. Had the caller said the noise was coming from our house?
Well, no, just that it was in the neighborhood, the officer said. He said that since he hadn't heard anything when he approached the house, that he wouldn't be citing us, but just giving us a warning. I'm not sure how you even qualify for a “warning” when neither the officer nor the caller could pinpoint the source of the noise, but since the warning consisted of writing my name and phone number in a notepad, I guess I can live with that.
When I went back to the basement to tell the kids that we had been visited by the police, they seemed a little surprised...for the most part. Though the details are still sketchy, I have gone from being 90% sure it wasn't someone from our group (my percentage when the police were here), to now being 75% sure that it was.
I'm not thrilled about that part of it, but it's hard for me to fault the caller or the police. On several occasions, young people have trespassed on nearby buildings and damaged property. More than once, I have found stolen property in the woods across the street. Worst of all, there was a break-in on the block this summer. So I am glad that people in the area are being diligent about reporting suspicious activity, as Neighborhood Watch instructs them to do. It's also good to know that the police take the calls seriously.
Now if I can just beat that bad clothing rap.
Sep 23, 2009 at 11:24 p.m.
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jim, im suprised that your kids brought thier friends over with you wearing that outfit. the cops should have looked at you and just turned around knowing that its all good. is saturday dress up night for you? LOL you should have givin them a warning that you will be dressed a little bit more over the top next time they come over
Sep 23, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.
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You would have known if it was the fashion police. Instead of actual sirens on the car, all of the "officers" would have made siren noises while circling an index finger above their head. Trust me, I've been in situations where backup was needed.
Sep 22, 2009 at 6:24 p.m.
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Kudos to you and your wife for hosting the get-together and having one of you stay up to be a monitor. I hope that when my kids are teens they will hang out at our house so we can continue to be close with them and involved parents. I too disagree with the warning, but am happy that the police did investigate and that you aren't negative about it! Great story, crazy outfit! :)
Sep 22, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.
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DITTO, sinsterssis!! Well said! Especially..."It is so nice to see someone take a story
which could be written in a bitter fashion (no pun intended)
and place a positive spin on it-good chuckles-sounds like a really nice community! Thanks for the story!
It IS A GREAT Commmunity! Thanks again, Mr Lyke!
Sep 22, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.
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I'm perturbed by the fact that you got a 'warning' even though there was no proof that you or anyone else was worthy of a noise complaint.
I understand that the officer needed to check out the call, but I think a response along the lines of "Thanks for the information. Apparently, there's nothing going on here now, but just please be aware that there was a noise complaint in this area" would have been more appropriate and respectful.
Sep 22, 2009 at 3:32 p.m.
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It is so nice to see someone take a story which could be written in a bitter fashion (no pun intended) and place a positive spin on it-good chuckles-sounds like a really nice community! Thanks for the story! I am glad you are allowing the kids in your home-most parents wouldn't want to 'deal' with the rowdiness and roughness of teenagers-especially if their are younger kids in the house. I love being involved in my teenagers life-and I love when she has her friends over-I know I embarrass her by asking each person if there parents know where they are-but as a parent I would want the same done with my child-they don't wan't alcohol or anything-they just want to hang out and have fun-kudos to you and your wife!
Sep 22, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
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must have been a slow nite for the police. The police should be happy the kids were there instead of roaming the streets. I too would have be upset with the warning for no reason But then again power of the badge.
Sep 22, 2009 at 10:36 a.m.
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Did the police ask about alcohol being served? If not, I'm truly disappointed.
As for the noise complaint, at 11:30pm, two girls laughing on the sidewalk is enough to wake just about anyone. (Throw in a boy to flirt with and you've got ear-splitting volumes of epic proportions.)
And Jim, I hope you're aware of Milton's curfew and properly dispersed your youth to return to their proper homes in time.
Sep 22, 2009 at 10:15 a.m.
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That particular combination of attire is illegal in all 49 other states, but is considered high fashion in Wisconsin. Seriously, it was the shoes that aroused the suspicions of the police. As part of their training, all prospective officers are required to watch Fast Times at Ridgemont High and when they saw the Vans, they were pretty sure that you were a stoner.
Sep 22, 2009 at 9:29 a.m.
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Forget the warning you should have been jailed for the outfit.
Sep 22, 2009 at 8:08 a.m.
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Even if the kids were ones that left your house or were ones that came to your house it sounds like the noise violation occurred outside your house. I am a little confused about how you get even a warning when the police didn’t hear anything at your house. Are you supposed to have control over these kids when they are going to or from your house? If they are not on your property when this occurred then you cannot be expected to have any authority over them and as such should not have even been given a warning. On the plus side it sounds like you handled the situation in a much calmer manner than I would have, but I still fail to see how they have the authority to give you a warning due to a noise in the neighborhood some were else.
Sep 22, 2009 at 1:30 a.m.
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OK, I'll bite... so the police -- who interrupted /your/ evening and who heard nothing -- gave /you/ a warning?
To put it mildly, I would not have been okay with that, even if there had been a rash of problems in my neighborhood.
Then again, maybe it /was/ your attire that upset them! :)
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