A frustrated woman dialed 911 with an unusual request: she wanted an officer to come to her home and tell her stepchildren to get in the car.
According to the call, the woman said the kids “wouldn’t listen” and insisted she needed law enforcement because she felt she couldn’t even leave her house due to their behavior.
Dispatchers explained that situations involving ongoing family or custody issues are typically handled through Juvenile Court, not emergency services. Still, the caller continued to ask for police assistance.
An officer ultimately spoke with the family and told the children to follow instructions, helping calm the situation.
No charges were filed.
When Is It Appropriate to Call Police?
Officers say calls like this happen more often than people realize—and they highlight an important distinction between parenting challenges and police matters.
Calling law enforcement is appropriate when there is:
✅ Violence or threats of violence
✅ A child in immediate danger
✅ Domestic abuse
✅ Runaways or missing children
✅ Serious criminal behavior
✅ Medical or mental health emergencies
But police are not the right solution for:
🚫 Kids refusing to cooperate
🚫 Routine discipline issues
🚫 Custody disagreements without immediate danger
🚫 Normal family conflicts
In those cases, parents and guardians are encouraged to reach out to:
- Juvenile Court or Family Court
- Children Services
- School counselors or social workers
- Family support or parenting resources
Why It Matters
Every time officers respond to non-emergency parenting disputes, it pulls resources away from true emergencies—car crashes, assaults, overdoses, and life-threatening calls.
Police say they’re always willing to help when safety is on the line—but they also stress that law enforcement can’t replace parenting, counseling, or court intervention.
It’s a reminder that while raising kids can be overwhelming, not every problem needs a badge and siren—sometimes it needs support services instead.