More often lately I’ll get into an interesting conversation with a parent about their day-to-day challenges and discover a column-worthy issue, only to find the parent gets cold feet about going on the record.

It’s understandable, especially when dealing with teenagers and privacy issues.

One parent, a close acquaintance, was talking about how helpful the Cary Police Department had been recently when she and her husband had trouble with their teenage son. She raved about the department, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Are we talking about the same police? The men and women in squad cars whose blue lights in my rearview mirror make me sigh with both regret and resignation?

Yes, yes. Those very same ones, she assured me. So recently I met with Capt. Michael Williams of the Investigations and Family Services Division at the Cary Police Department to get the skinny on what my friend was talking about. Because, let’s face it, sometimes as parents we do the very best we can, only to find our child is heading down the wrong path.

The good news is that all four high schools and five middle schools in Wake County employ a School Resource Officer, a police officer who works full-time at each school. The SRO serves three roles: mentor, educator and officer.

The SRO often identifies kids having trouble in school and intervenes with parents early to fix the problem or seek assistance. The presence of SROs is also changing the way kids and adults view police officers.

We didn’t have them when I was in high school.

“The only time you saw them was when they were behind you or standing in your mom’s living room when you did something wrong,” jokes Williams.

Actually, that has, until now, pretty much been my association with the police. I’ve had sort of a “less seen the better” philosophy about law enforcement.

But here’s a thought: The Cary Police Department wants your kid to keep his nose clean probably as much as you do. “The whole goal of our juvenile system, if at all possible, is to keep the children out of the system,” said Williams, adding in certain situations it can’t be avoided. “If we can do a referral or get them involved in a program instead of having to pull them into the criminal justice system, that’s what we try to do. Our goal is to divert them away.”

Two of the programs Williams’ division utilizes most often are Wake Teen, which provides counseling for both children and families; and Triangle Family Services, which employs a child psychiatrist. In more extreme situations, a child can go before a juvenile judge and be held accountable for grades or school attendance.

“Get some program that they can get involved in before it reaches the chronic level,” advises Williams. Another interesting option that Wake County offers for cases that do not involve drugs, weapons or assault charges is Capital Area Teen Court.

“The judge is a teen; the jury members are teens; the lawyers are teens.

That program is just wonderful,” said Williams. “If we refer somebody to teen court, they have to go in and their case is settled by peers in that setting and if they’re found to be responsible, then a part of their sentence is they have to turn around and serve as a teen.” (Many teens simply volunteer to serve, especially those with an interest in law enforcement, law or politics).

If a child’s behavior has escalated, there are other programs, including a residential boot camp program called Tarheel Challenge for kids age 16 and older and a diversion program for first-time nonviolent offenders ages 11 to 17 called J.A.C.K. (Juveniles Achieving Knowledge and Experience). “Seek resources,” said Williams. “There is a ton of help out there that we’re aware of that you may not be aware of. If you need us to help you and put you in contact with the appropriate program, whatever your situation is, we’re more than willing to do that. We can point you in the right direction.”

Thanks, Captain.

Parent Resources
Cary Police Department: 469-4017 or michael.williams@townofcary.org.
Capital Area Teen Court: cap italareateencourt.org/agents.asp or 856-5671.
Wake Teen (counseling and some medical services): wake teen.org or 828-0035.
Triangle Family Services (counseling): tfsnc.org or 821-0790.
Tarheel Challenge: ngycp, 1 (800) 573-9966.
J.A.C.K. (Juveniles Achieving Knowledge and Experience): 872-4884.