Concerns over a new city ordinance in Shawano have the city's Police Chief speaking out tonight, ensuring parents they're not out to "gouge" their pocketbooks.
The new ordinance would allow police to fine parents if they're told their child is acting as a bully, and nothing is done by the parents to stop it. Parents will have 90 days to intervene after being first notified about their child.
The fines could range from $366-$681, says Chief Mark Kohl.
But he also says tonight that the "last thing" police want to do is have a situation get to the point where a fine is a possibility, and adds parents often don't know their child is acting as a bully in the first place.
The school district already has a policy on bullying, but how both policies will work together going forward is part of a larger discussion at the district office tonight.
Since word spread of the ordinance's passing, Kohl admits some parents say they're afraid of being "gouged" by new anti-bullying fines.
"That couldn't be further from the truth," says Kohl emphatically before tonight's meeting with the school district Board, "what we really are looking for is a collaboration."
It's a collaboration, says Kohl, between police and parents.
"If they make an effort, that's good enough for us. They're still on our side," says Kohl. "We will not give them a ticket. We can't ticket our way out of this!"
After tonight, Kohl says he wants to be clear on who they're targeting.
"It's going to be the type of bully that is vulgar," says Kohl, "intending to hurt."
Kohl also wants to be clear where police are setting their sights.
"And we also are aware that not all bullying takes place here, on school grounds," adds District Superintendent Gary Cumberland, before tonight's meeting, "I mean, cyber bullying, for example."
Cumberland admits, with a bullying policy already in place for the school district, and without knowing of the new city ordinance before its passing, he was confused at first when talks of "collaboration" on the ordinance between the district and police were floating around.
"What I initially thought is, 'what's going on?' says Cumberland, "but I hadn't had a chance to talk with the Chief yet."
Now, he says he sees a real opportunity for collaboration.
"But hearing it from another source sometimes is a really good thing," adds Cumberland.
While a fine can hit you where it hurts, dome have suggested that the financial penalty of the ordinance be swapped with a service, like counseling, that a parent would have to enroll their child in.
