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Mountain View Police Department
1000 Villa Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650-903-6344
Directions & Map
Hours
General Business:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.)
Walk-in Crime Reports:
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (7 days)
Submit your questions, suggestions, compliments,concerns, or track your existing request online.
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You can spend 24 hours a day for 18 years worrying about the safety and well being of your children. Many aspects of your children's safety seem completely out of your control. How's a parent to get any sleep?
You can do something about the number one killer of children: accidental injury. Bike safety classes, fire drills, baby-proofing the home, child car seats, smoke detectors, never swimming alone, and testing the water before putting Susie in the bath... there's a lot you can do to make your child's world safer from accidents.
But what about violence against children? That's random and unpredictable, isn't it? Not completely. Only 26% of child homicides are committed by strangers. The rest are committed by family members, acquaintances and friends. Attacks or abductions by strangers are one of the rarest forms of violence against children. That's why they make the news. The people that you and your child associate with every day are the most likely to harm your child. That means you can exercise some control.
You may not be able to select your child's school, but you can decide who your child spends time with after school, who you permit in your home, who you allow to drive your child to an event, and who is permitted to be alone with him or her.
One of the biggest myths is that the dangers to children come from strangers. In the majority of cases, the perpetrator is someone the parents or child knows, and that person may be in a position of trust or responsibility. Parents must teach their child how to use their intuition for safety. Tell your child that molesters are not always a stranger. They can be found among family, friends and religious and sports organizations. They hide out in the open.
Drug or alcohol use is also worthy of consideration when screening those who have access to your children. These substances can inspire violence in people who would otherwise behave well. Gang membership, evidenced by tattoos, slang and the wearing of colors, is another factor.
Be Proactive in Protecting Kids from Violence - Talk to your child about violence. Explain that touch limits apply to strangers, acquaintances and family members. Teach them when and how to say no. Teach them that they can question anyone—even authority figures. Explain what to do in a crisis—run, yell, etc. Teach survival rules—how gut instinct may tell you something is wrong.
- Listen to your child. S/he may be trying to tell you something. Encourage kids to speak to you about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. Don't discount their feelings or let them feel they can't come to you in a crisis.
- Teach and praise empathy.
- Be a role model for solving disagreements calmly without acting out physically. If you or other family members are not able to do this, seek family counseling before you pass the problem on to your kids. If you cannot afford a therapist, free or low-cost services are available from the community.
- Get professional help (doctor, psychologist, police) immediately if you suspect that your child:
- Has been a victim of violence.
- Has a sudden dramatic change in behavior.
- Is emotionally disturbed, depressed or unable to function.
- Is using drugs or excessive alcohol.
- Is involved in a gang.
- Is spending time with drug users or gang members.
Kids Home Alone
Be confident that your children know what to do in an emergency: - Be sure they understand the usage of 9-1-1.
- Instruct them to not divulge to anyone over the phone or at the front door that they are alone.
- Instruct them to stay inside with the doors and windows locked.
- Let them know what neighbor that they can go to for help.
- Provide them with telephone numbers to reach you and your neighbors.
Child Safety Seat Law
California law requires children under 6 years of age, or weighing less than 60 pounds, to use a child safety seat, a booster seat, or other safety restraint system. The booster seat raises the child so that the vehicle lap and shoulder belt can be positioned properly and better protect them in the event of an accident.
| | Protect Kids from Accidents - Know and follow seatbelt and child safety seat regulations.
- Set a good example for your children and drive defensively.
- Don't leave children under 3 alone with small pieces of food or toys.
- Make sure your child's bike is sized properly and safe to operate.
- Teach your children about fires and other home emergencies and what to do if they occur.
- Guns in the home? Get and use free gun locks.
More tips:
Safe Kids Tips
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