Cops offer to search children's bedrooms (Parents' OK needed under new TPD anti-gang effort)

Arizona Daily Star ^ | Dale Quinn and Josh Brodesky

[SandRat]

The long arm of the law knows no limits — especially when it comes to searching through the belongings of Tucson's troubled youths.

With the consent of parents, the Tucson Police Department's newly-formed gang-outreach unit is searching the rooms of kids in the program.

The searches, police and City Council members say, are meant to be educational, showing concerned parents signs of gang activity.

But they've raised the eyebrows of several neighborhood leaders, who view the searches as intrusive and heavy-handed — particularly since the gang unit deals with kids as young as 8 years old and the searches could lead to arrests.

[The Louiswu]

If the parents consent I’m ok with it. Gangs recruit young kids and that needs to be stopped. If the kids don’t like it they can turn away from gang activity or they can move out!

[Tax-chick]

I think parents should be able to search their children’s rooms at any time - or invite the police to do so, at the parents’ discretion.

I can’t help wondering at the motives of the “neighborhood leaders” who don’t want parents to have this assistance in preventing their children’s involvement in gangs.

[Graybeard58]

But they've raised the eyebrows of several neighborhood leaders, who view the searches as intrusive and heavy-handed

Did they miss the part about parental consent?

The "neighborhood leaders" should butt out.

What the hell is a neighborhood leader anyway? I wonder if I'm one or am I just one of the neighborhood sheeple?

[Lancey Howard]

The ‘Escape From New York’ prison model looks better all the time. Just build razor-topped walls around the Democrat cities and let nature take its course. Strategically-placed monthly airdrops of food and ammo would help things along.

[Tax-chick]

What the hell is a neighborhood leader anyway?

Good question. Maybe it means Neighborhood Watch members? My neighborhood has a Homeowners' Association board, but they don't have anything to do with law enforcement.

[FreePaul]

I can’t help wondering at the motives of the “neighborhood leaders”...

Every child who is kept out of criminal activity and completes school is one less subject for the "neighborhood leaders." People who can think for themselves are less likely to be lead by the poverty pimps.

[Graybeard58]

I've decided that I'm the "neighborhood leader". There are about 35 houses on my street and my street address is 1 Park Drive, Not only that but my last name starts with the letter "A"

If those two facts don't make me the neighborhood leader, I don't know what does.

I'm gonna start laying down the law around here.

[Lancey Howard]

I can’t help wondering at the motives of the “neighborhood leaders” who don’t want parents to have this assistance in preventing their children’s involvement in gangs.

They are probably worried that guns, drugs, and contraband will be traced back to them. They fear that some of these "youths", upon being confronted, would rat them out. THAT's what the "neighborhood leaders" are concerned about.

[Graybeard58]

See #8

[Publius6961]

But they've raised the eyebrows of several neighborhood leaders, who view the searches as intrusive and heavy-handed ...

These self-appointed "neighborhood leaders" better butt out of this one. If both the parents and the police department are OK with it. "Overlooking" gang membership is just another form of child abuse. Who the hell would defend that under the guise of "children's privacy"?

[Tax-chick]

That’s the spirit!

[Tax-chick]

Democrat Party block captains, perhaps? Keeping the voters on the plantation ...

[FreedomPoster]

OK, now that’s funny.

You should write a letter to the writer and editor of that article, asking what their criteria was for deciding someone was a neighborhood leader, and describing your qualifications.

[PalmettoMason]

The parents need to step up and search their own kid’s rooms.
I have a problem with parents who think it is the government’s job to do what they (the parents) should be doing.
I also have a problem with a government agency that is all too happy and quick to do the parents job.

camel’s nose/tent.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

There are two things at play here. I understand the constitionality issues. The other one is this strange idea that parents have about the right to privacy their children have, that they are somehow violating their children's privacy if they go into their bedroom, etc. That's just nuts, IMHO.

CC&E

[Graybeard58]

I wouldn’t invite a cop to search my kids room but have no problem with parents who would.

Come to think of it, my “kid” is a cop. He doesn’t live with me anymore but if he did he could search his own room.

[Former Proud Canadian]

So, these parents are so out of touch that they need the police to search their kid’s rooms to tell them if they are in a gang? G*d help us!

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

I think the real objection (albeit unstated in this article) is that Joe Arpaio has a working relationship with TPD.....not a single hispanic surname in this article that I noticed.

[Tax-chick]

this strange idea that parents have about the right to privacy their children have

Not an idea that I have :-)

I can't see any constitutional issue, as long as the owner or tenant of the property freely consents to the search.

And I can see why parents might like police help. The police are experienced at finding things people don't want found, and they (should, if they're the anti-gang unit) recognize gang-affiliation items that a parent might miss. I don't know what local gang clothes and marks look like!