To the editor:
I was appalled to read a Marblehead police log entry in the Current this week. The entry concerned kids with e-bikes who were pulled over by an MPD officer due to their erratic riding and riding without helmets. When the kids were questioned by the officer they were disrespectful and surly and resisted answering the officer’s questions as to their names, addresses and ages. The officer in charge told the kids their e-bikes would be confiscated for two weeks, citing a Massachusetts General Law. The boys were instructed to call a parent which they did and a grandmother and mother came to the scene and disagreed with the officer’s decision to confiscate the bikes.
The grandparent even went so far as to mention her service on the town Finance Committee and unbelievably made a reference to funding for the police department! Sounds like a threat to me. It’s hard for me to understand how parents who behave like this can expect to have kids who respect authority when they see their parents behaving in a disrespectful way toward the police, and most likely anyone else who dares to find fault with their kids. These kids learn this behavior from their parents and this contributes to a society where rules are not obeyed and respect is nowhere to be found. Raising kids is one of the hardest and most important jobs any parent will ever have. Our kids deserve much better than that from their parents.
Pat Boldys
Pierce Street
