Local Officials Urge Caution, Safety For Halloween
Posted
Amanda Bridgman-abridgman@timesuniononline.com
Local police and fire departments want to remind parents and children how to stay safe during Halloween activities.
“We’ll be out in full force on Halloween,”?Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes said. “It’s a chance for the deputy sheriffs to get into the neighborhoods and hand out candy.”
Dukes also said the sheriff’s office golf cart will be cruising the streets of some of the county’s bigger neighborhoods.
“The biggest problem we face on Halloween is large groups of kids not paying attention and darting into traffic,”?Dukes said. “Every Halloween we have a lot of close calls. Drivers need to slow down and look, and the kids need to look before crossing.”
Warsaw Police Department Public Information Officer Det. Brad Kellar suggests trick-or-treaters cross at street corners or crosswalks when available and stick to walking on sidewalks where they’re provided.
“Always expect that the driver of a vehicle is not paying attention and may not see you,” Kellar said. If there are no sidewalks, people should walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
Kellar suggests people do not walk while using phones and tablets, and that drivers should turn on their headlights earlier than they usually might to be able to be seen. Motorists are reminded by WPD to spend extra time looking for children or pedestrians at intersections, medians or curbs and to enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
Costumes and candy bags with reflective tape or stickers will be safer and face paint and makeup are better alternatives than face masks for seeing clearly.
Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory suggests children wear costumes that do not have long, trailing fabric that could cause trips or catch fire from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.
Homeowners are reminded by the fire department that dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper decorations catch fire easily and to keep those away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters. Firefighters also remind homeowners to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes and to make sure all smoke alarms are working.
For those feeling like pulling some tricks on Halloween, Dukes warns that even the old-fashioned prank of toilet papering trees is against the law.
“Paperwork would get sent to the prosecutor for review,” Dukes said of any of his officers catching the TP’ing in the act. “Those are old pranks that still happen today, but people who get TP’d, they do call us,” he said.
Dukes also reminds parents and children that porch lights on mean that home is accepting trick-or-treaters, but if the light is off to please leave them alone.
“Don’t bother them,” Dukes said. “We do get calls that doorbells ring all night even when lights aren’t on, so please avoid doing that.”
Another resource parents can check is the Kosciusko County Sex Offender Registry. There are 91 offenders who either live or work in the county on the list. Photos of the offenders, the crimes for which they were convicted, their home addresses and places of employment are all able to be viewed.
To search your area or see the list, to sign up for alerts, or to learn more about the sheriff’s community awareness program, visit www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=54846.
Deputy Charlene Johnson, who handles the county’s sex offenders, said convicted offenders have no rules when it comes to trick-or-treating and that they may in fact have their porch lights on. Johnson did say that a few years ago Indiana’s parole office would schedule a meeting during Halloween trick-or-treat hours requiring offenders currently on probation or parole to attend to keep them away from the children roaming the streets. There is no such program in Kosciusko County, however, she said. Johnson can be reached at 574-267-5667 or cjohnson@kcgov.com to answer questions about the program.
Dukes said an adult should accompany children 12 years and younger during trick-or-treating. Children 13 and older should stay in groups and follow an agreed-upon route, and children of any age should be told to never enter any home without you or without your permission and to only approach homes that are well-lit and to never take shortcuts.
“Teach your children to say ‘no’ and ‘get away’ from any person or situation making them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused, even if it means yelling, kicking, attracting attention or any other means of resisting,” Dukes said.
Kellar advises parents to inspect the candy before children are allowed to eat it and to throw out anything that is homemade, unwrapped or the wrapping is torn.
“Remember, kids won’t think about doing this, it is our responsibility as parents and guardians,” Kellar said.
Dukes said a couple years ago there was a problem with glass in candy, but that he hasn’t had any problems he’s aware of since then.
For a complete list of trick-or-treat times and dates, visit www.timesuniononline.com.
