Parents React to how Abilene Police are Handling Boot Camp Investigation
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: January 9, 2013
Parents of children who are enrolled in Reality Invasion's Boot Camp meet to discuss their outrage.
Lateisha Jenkins says, "When I heard that I was like uh-uh. No way."
Thelma Staggs adds, "I was stunned. I mean my heart broke."
Allegations made that drill sergeants went too far in disciplining children in the boot camp. However these parents say the boot camp has saved the lives of their children and there is no way those allegations can be true.
"I was highly upset. Very upset, and disappointed in the system," says Jenkins.
Disappointed because she says she does not agree with how Abilene police are handling the investigation.
Lateisha Jenkins just happened to still be at her daughter's school Tuesday when police asked the principal to pull her out of class. Which is when Jenkins stepped in and asked why.
She explains, "We need to speak to her and I was like about what? So they said we can't tell you that. I said well then you can't talk to my daughter and they were like well we have an investigation going on. That's all we can tell you."
Jenkins says she told the officer the only way they would be able to speak to her daughter is if she was present. That is when she says she proceeded down the hall to take her daughter out of class.
She continues, "He came running behind me and tried to put the handcuffs on me and told me he was going to lock me up."
Although, going against her wishes, Jenkins says the police still questioned her 10 year-old-daughter.
Thirteen year-old Ember Bishop says she was also pulled out of class and interrogated, even though she did not want to talk.
She says, "The cop and CPS said if I don't talk to them I would go to juvenile hall."
While the police department does have a right to question children without the consent of a guardian, these parents are wondering why their children were pressured to speak and requests were not honored.
Ember's father, Lowell Bishop, says, "In a way, they are threatening the kids by intimidating the children."
Lateisha Jenkins says, "When I heard that I was like uh-uh. No way."
Thelma Staggs adds, "I was stunned. I mean my heart broke."
Allegations made that drill sergeants went too far in disciplining children in the boot camp. However these parents say the boot camp has saved the lives of their children and there is no way those allegations can be true.
"I was highly upset. Very upset, and disappointed in the system," says Jenkins.
Disappointed because she says she does not agree with how Abilene police are handling the investigation.
Lateisha Jenkins just happened to still be at her daughter's school Tuesday when police asked the principal to pull her out of class. Which is when Jenkins stepped in and asked why.
She explains, "We need to speak to her and I was like about what? So they said we can't tell you that. I said well then you can't talk to my daughter and they were like well we have an investigation going on. That's all we can tell you."
Jenkins says she told the officer the only way they would be able to speak to her daughter is if she was present. That is when she says she proceeded down the hall to take her daughter out of class.
She continues, "He came running behind me and tried to put the handcuffs on me and told me he was going to lock me up."
Although, going against her wishes, Jenkins says the police still questioned her 10 year-old-daughter.
Thirteen year-old Ember Bishop says she was also pulled out of class and interrogated, even though she did not want to talk.
She says, "The cop and CPS said if I don't talk to them I would go to juvenile hall."
While the police department does have a right to question children without the consent of a guardian, these parents are wondering why their children were pressured to speak and requests were not honored.
Ember's father, Lowell Bishop, says, "In a way, they are threatening the kids by intimidating the children."
Comments
I dare someone to tell me they are going to speak to my grandson without telling me why!!!!! What is wrong with this PD they are the most overbearing bunch of cops I have ever seen......Whats so off the wall is the stuff they should be investigating they could care less about but something like this they are all over!!!!
Rhonda H.
January 10, 2013 at 10:17 pm
