Watch over kids text messaging, using social media

Last week we gave thanks to our communication’s personnel. I’m sure we’ve all heard that communication is essential to success in many areas, especially in our line of work.

Healthy communication is needed for relationships with our creator, husband, wife, children, parents, family, friends and the public. Communication comes in many forms. Primarily, speech conveys a message. Writing words can sometimes be tricky. Welcome 2013.

For the past 21 years a new form of communication has affected most of us: text messages. OMG, we also added social media. According to Forrester Research, 2.2 trillion text messages are sent yearly in the United States. Nearly 75 percent of teenagers text, sending an average of about 60 texts a day. Do you know what your kids are texting about?

With social media came the phenomenon of Facebook. More than 1 billion people (one-sixth of the world’s population) use Facebook every month. This social media form of communication serves many positives. Finding family and old friends is great.

But where there is an ebb, then comes the flow.

Facebook communication can be very negative. Like a partner of mine said, “You throw dirt, you lose ground.” Oh, by the way, do you know what your kids are doing on Facebook? Providing you know about of all their accounts. Communication!

Remember if you say it, you can’t take it back. If you write it, everyone can read it. And if you text it or put it on the computer, the whole world has access. Hopefully, your positive communication changes Boulder City for the better. Monitor your kid’s communication because you never know who could be on the other side of the keyboard.

“Control, 269, I’ll be 10-8, in service.”

On Aug. 25, an Arizona driver is stopped for a minor traffic infraction on Nevada Highway. The officer hears what appears to sound like a slurrrrr. The driver fails the eye test, the walk and turn and the one-leg stand. The Maricopa County sheriff’s applicant’s polygraph next week may be a problem.

Aug. 26, officers are dispatched to the area of the Sinclair station regarding someone threatening another person. Officers arrive but all everyone is gone. Funny, it was about midnight and I bet their friend — alcohol — was traveling with them.

On Aug. 27, a check of a vehicle’s license plate by an officer reveals the car is stolen. The officer waits for back-up and the vehicle is stopped. The female driver forgot to return the rental car in May. Whoops! Vehicle theft and possession of dangerous drugs will require some explaining to the judge.

Aug. 28, a moped is stopped coming up from Lake Mead on the pathway/wash next to U.S. Highway 93. The moped driver’s attempt to be discreet failed. The driver had an active Boulder City warrant. Another ticket for driving where he shouldn’t and getting arrested. I hope he pays for this ticket, cause if not, yep, another warrant.

On Aug. 29, detectives ask patrol to arrest a wanted subject. The newly signed arrest warrant was for open and gross lewdness. Officers arrive in the area of Bronco Road. A knock on the door and the wanted subject looks out the window. Oh ya, we got um! The subject is arrested without incident.

Aug. 30, officers respond to the 500 block of Nevada Way regarding a fight. The intoxicated instigator is arrested for being drunk in public. Alcohol strikes again. Legal, huh?

On Aug. 31, a local motel is hosting a motorcycle club gathering. So far so good. The officer spots a vehicle with a suspended registration leaving the motel. The traffic stop leads to a DUI, but not for alcohol, some hard drugs were on board. Moral of the story, a temporary high has lasting consequences. They’re not just financial, but physical also. Think.

Officer Jeffrey Grasso is a 10-year veteran of the Boulder City Police Department. He previously served as a police officer is south Florida for four years.