Cops visit girl, 4, who refused to wear seat belt

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Rochester, N.H. mom gripping seat belt to fasten in daughter, 4; they got a visit from local police after mom asked for help keeping her child buckled up.

/ CBS Boston

(CBS) It sounds like a scene lifted straight from a Norman Rockwell painting (or maybe an episode of Mayberry R.F.D.).

The local neighborhood cop comes to the door to deliver a valuable lesson about the importance of wearing seat belts.

It recently happened just like that in Rochester, N.H., and it involved a 4-year-old girl, according to CBS Boston.

The station says Teighan Donnell likes to push her mom's buttons and one of her favorite tricks is to unbuckle her seat belt. Her mom Heather says she got so frustrated with Teighan's behavior that she took her to the police department.

Rochester police were on a shift change, but - here's the Norman Rockwell part - Officer Eric Krans soon went to the home, armed with a speech about the importance of seat belts.

"Being a school teacher I know the cops are there to educate us and the children just as much as they are to help to put criminals away," said the mom.

Heather posted a thank you on the police department's Facebook page, and the community chimed in. Most praised both mother and officer with comments including "It takes a village to raise a child" and "It is nice to hear someone saying something nice about our police officers."

Not everyone was so impressed.

"It's ridiculous to use a police officer to help discipline your child," said one person. And another wrote "...a cop has better stuff to do than make house calls telling your kid to buckle up..."

Rochester police say they frequently send officers to homes to deal with juvenile issues or for other reasons not typically thought of as police issues.

"We don't want parents coming to the police department for everything," said Rochester Police Captain Paul Toussaint. "But in a situation like this where the mother's tried everything, if we can be of any assistance then we're glad to help."

All's well that ends well, Beaver.

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by angelofurnightmare February 9, 2013 10:23 AM EST: Sometimes parents try everything....I know there are times that I feel out of options because (short of beating my kids black & blue) I tried everything. This also shows the kid that cops aren't always mean and bad. Unless I misunderstood the mother is a teacher so I am sure she has had tons of experience with kids.
I believe going to the local police so they could talk to her was a good idea. I is better than those "just beat it outta her" options.; Reply to this comment


by VA_Jill February 8, 2013 12:32 PM EST: When my kids tried this, I just stopped the car until they buckled up, no matter where we were going. It didn't last long. But some kids need a little extra "persuasion". The police speak at schools about safety and I don't see anything wrong with what the parents did. It seems like an extreme case.; Reply to this comment


by idunnogal February 7, 2013 1:26 PM EST: No big deal with the officer 'buckling up' to this. My neighbor's son had tried starting fires a couple of times. She asked the fire department what tips they had for her. They sent over a firefighter to have a somewhat lengthy talk with him, and there were never again anymore incidences from him. Sometimes, that's what they do. They speak at schools about violence, drugs, etc. and repurcussions all the time. Even one life...; Reply to this comment


by ellensmithee February 7, 2013 10:10 AM EST: It takes a village to raise a child when the parents are crappy.

I would have tied the seat belt together so the child couldn't unbuckle it. And then I would have told my child that I was the boss, not her. And then I would have taken her home and punished her to show her, if she breaks the rules in life, there is punishment. Period! She does not get to write the rules of life.

No doubt ten years from now this parent will blame the village when her child is out of control.; Reply to this comment