Noisy children

[Danielle Masters]

I will admit that having five young children we are definitely not a quiet family, but I never thought our nice family would have the police called on us. Were we fighting? No! Were we playing loud offensive music? No! Were my kids terrorizing the neighborhood by screaming obscenities? No! Were my kids vandalizing property? No! What were my children doing to have the police called on them? They were playing in the backyard on a warm summer evening with the neighbors. Yes that's right they were in their own backyard being KIDS at 8 pm on a summer night. The first time this happened it happened at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I honestly blew it off as someone just having a bad day, but this is the second time and now I am a bit peeved. Even the police officer laughed that he had to respond to kids playing loudly. He told us he though it was ridiculous that he had to come out for a call on kids doing what they should be doing. I am just really upset that such pissy people would choose to call Lakewood their home. This is an urban city with lots of people including children. Call me old fashion but I though kids were supposed to play outside. We are good neighbors, we teach our children to respect others but I couldn't bring myself to scold them for this. Am I wrong? Do people in Lakewood really find the noise of young children playing offensive? I hope not. I personally think more children need to be outside playing and being kids. It upsets me to think of kids sitting inside all day. So today I will send my children outside for fresh air and exercise as I always do and hope that the neighbors in the apartment complex get a life.

[c. dawson]

Boy, I'd rather hear young kids playing than the teenage metalhead next door, who plays really loud heavy metal music from his car. He likes to peel out on the street, and whenever he gets in his car (or comes home), he blares the music out the windows all the time, even late at night, and he'll actually sit in the car for a few minutes to keep the music going. I thought it was just a teenager being a teenager until one day I saw his dad working in the back yard ... and he brought out a boombox, and proceeded to blast heavy metal music so loud that I could hear it in my basement! Then he had to leave for a while, so he left the boombox on for hours, even though no one was home!

So heck, I'd love to hear small children playing!!!

Don't take it personally though; times have changed. Some people, like my neighbors, aren't considerate of the noise they make, because they're only focused on their own wants and needs. Considering the neighbors isn't even on their list. And on the other hand, people are now living in places like Lakewood that have never lived in a high-density urban area before, and they expect things to be extremely quiet because that's what they want.

I don't mind noise; when you have houses this close to each other, it's to be expected. I just expect some consideration. Much as I do my best not to play the TV or stereo too loudly, or not doing anything outside when people may be sleeping, I kinda hope that's happening elsewhere. And it often isn't.

[Jeff Endress]

Danielle

My condolences on having such neighbors. Suffered through similar incidences a few years back and it's certainly no fun. The police HAVE to respond to any calls. They also understand that there are some cranks out there, and even if the police are apologetic about having to come out, there's still the embarassment of the patrol car in the drive.

Kids belong outside. Noise is a part of play. It's part of what makes a neighborhood family freindly. As long as you're not hosting touch football games in the street at 2 am, press on. Offer the officer a cold lemonade, get to know some of Lakewood's finest up close and personal, and pray that the complainers get a life.


Jeff

[Grace O'Malley]

I can sympathize as I've had the same thing happen this summer. Must be the heat.

At four o'clock on a Saturday afternoon I had the nice policeman come tell me someone complained about my kids. He, too, seemed embarassed to be there.

However, here's what I don't understand. Lakewood has a noise ordinance and I looked it up online. As far as I can see, unless the noise is over a certain decibel level, or before 8 AM or after 11PM, I don't know why the police even bother coming out. They should ask the caller to explain exactly what type and loudness of "noise" they are experiencing and then let the caller know that kids playing in a yard does not constitute any offense that would require a police officer to come out.

What a complete and total waste of an officer's time. When any of my neighbors do something so annoying that I can't stand it, which is rarely, I walk over and talk to them. Usually, its a one time thing that won't be repeated. I'd never think of calling the police.

I think people who constantly call the police on neighbors ought to be given a talking to and referred to some sort of arbitration or mediation to determine how to best solve the problem. Calling the police should be reserved for a true emergency.

[Suzie Dean]

As some of you may or may not know... Danielle and I are neighbors, and yes our family also has five children, and they were part of the complaint "problem" We also are not a quiet family with having five children. Yes, Danielle has 4 boys and 1 girl as we have 4 girls and 1 boy. Ten children the ages of 11 all the way down to 2. Oh and yes some times kids do have their friends over and there may be more then ten kids playing outside in our own backyard that does have a privacy fence up. Not being rude, not being trouble makers, not doing things that they shouldn't be doing. They are kids being kids. Laughing, running, playing, and having fun.

I thought kids were supposed to be kids.

The society today makes them grow up way to fast all ready. I personally enjoy standing at the back door listening to the innocence of the stories they tell, the laughter, and the imaginations that they have. Is there something wrong with that?

People often make comments about the obesity problem in young children today... maybe if more kids were playing outside running around and being kids there wouldn't be as much of a concern.

Yes our Lakewoods finest had to take the time out of their busy days of actually taking care of people that are doing things that are wrong and are against the law, to only answer a complaint call about kids being kids.

If kids are playing outside is offensive, then whats next???

Are the birds chirping outside to loud?
Are the cars driving down the street to loud?
Is the lawn mower to loud?

[Suzanne Metelko]

Danielle and Suzie live on the street that has our office at the corner. We have a very attractive concrete drive and turn around that just calls to kids. Because of the danger of traffic coming in and out on two drives it is a safety hazard for kids. I spoke to children who listened and answered me politely. And then they blew off down the street like the terrific kids they are, chasing each other and laughing. I never fail to get a "Hi Mrs. Metelko!" when I see them. They're great neighbors with great kids and the noise is positively joyful.

Isn't this an instance when the nuisance law works in reverse? It is my understanding that if you make calls to the police that are unwarranted, that you may be liable for them.

[Mark Crnolatas]

We also, have had experiences with someone who seems to have nothing better to do than call city hall over "imagined" annoyances.

It appears some folks seem to feel the need to do such things, which wastes our safety forces time, causes ill-will and generally shoots down the moral of the area among other neighbors.

For us, tho' we tried to make friends or at least establish some good words, however these people in our experience, refuse positive input, and so, in our case, all we could and can do is wish them well, and carry on.

My suggestion for the city hall "box" would be to have non-safety persons, who do NOT drive a police car, but rather either an unmarked or "City of Lakewood" subtle marked sedan be sent to such type of "annoyance" calls, make a determination IF the police need be called if necessary, since a call for "noisy children" could be filtered to send an "inspector" or "City Official", to take the report, rather than occupy even a non-busy police officer with taking the report, when the next radio call might demand his/her attention to something higher up on priorities.

Mark

[Danielle Masters]

Thanks for all the replies. I do feel better, but it does upset me that this has happened to other people. I wish that I could talk to the neighbor that called but unfortunately the officer just said the call came from a Hilliard address which would be the Hilliard House. I really like Mark's idea about having non-safety personnel come out, luckily out of habit the officer parked next door and not directly in front of our house, it is embarrassing to have an officer at your door. I guess I should be grateful that we live in a safe city and that the police can take the time to respond to these calls but it would be nice if these calls were never made. The police are great and I in no way fault them, the officer was very nice and after the kids were reassured they weren't in trouble they did think it was cool to have an officer at the house. They commented on how nice he was. Lastly I would like to let my neighbors know that if they feel the kids are being too loud knock on my door and I will gladly ask them to lower their voices.

[Bill Davis]

Great idea Mark!

I believe when there is a dog barking problem call, the city sends Animal Control, not the boys in blue.

There are the chronic "cop callers". LPD dispatchers are familiar with the regulars. While listing to the scanner, it seems like they prioritize accordingly.

I used to have some pretty wild teen boys behind me. I could see them drinking, smoking the bong, parties, loud rap music and all that. But I only called the cops once. That's when the pellet gun (a good one) came out and they were shooting at animals and birds. THAT got me pissed. LPD where there in no time, and that was that. I think they took the gun.

They moved away so no more noise there. Last year my cat had an x-ray for something, and guess what? He had had a pellet in him.

[Stan Austin]

To Danielle and Suzie (cc. to Endress)

Is there a possibilitie of a charge of filing a false report against an overly complaining neighbor?

Stan

[Phil Florian]

My mind is officially blown by this. Someone needs to move out to the country if they can't stand the sound of neighborhood children laughing, yelling and playing. That is the sign of a good neighborhood, not a sick one. We live in a town were you can almost reach out one window into your neighbors to pass the ketchup. You have to take some bit of noise as a part of that. If I called the cops every time I heard people talking, yelling, laughing, doing dishes, playing with the dog, cutting wood in the garage, etc. I would have gone mad.

I have to echo the idea that the person making the call is accountable to the city and to your families for making repeated calls, taking up VALUABLE time of Lakewood's Finest, and causing embarrassment in front of all your other neighbors. I can't imagine how it must feel to have to deal with a police and have neighbors wondering if they are safe now because of it as they think it is abuse, neglect, domestic violence and instead is just kids playing around. All the while the nasty folks who reported it are peeking out their front curtains with a satisfied smirk on their face. I agree that these folks have made false accusations and should be held responsible if they continue to do it. It amounts to harrassment, defamation of character and a waste of public dollars.

What would be nice is, as suggested above, the officer stop by for a soda or some lemonade (if s/he has time) and maybe even play with the kids. Make it educational for the kids (show police can be good neighbors, too) and for the neighbors as that would have to get the goat of the person calling the police in the first place.

My advice: Play on! Invite more neighborhood kids and make a point. Just continue to do it between 8 AM and 11 PM!

Best of luck. Keep us informed!

[Jeff Endress]

It amounts to harassment, defamation of character and a waste of public dollars.

Exactly Phil. We used to refer to it as "harassment by proxy". Call the building department and complain about the sidewalk......call the animal warden and complain about the barking.....call the police and complain about a excess noise.....

At least when the building dept. comes out, they also look at the property of the complainer. I would think that after an officer responded to the call, found a bunch of kids playing tag, his/her next stop SHOULD be the complainer (in this case) condo, with a stern warning that the next unwarranted call will result in the complainant being fined.

Stan
Some cities do have provisions to prosecute those who use city departments to harass their neighbors, but usually it requires a significant number of repeated calls.
Jeff