I am writing this because of the experience my daughter had over the Labor Day weekend.

At around 10 p.m. Friday night, my 17-year-old daughter and her boyfriend were leaving a grocery store where he works. As they pulled out onto state Route 410 they didn’t see the oncoming car and trailer that didn’t have his headlights on and, as you can guess, they collided. Now, what I am upset and disheartened about is our hometown police force. I understand these kids were just that, kids; it’s the first accident either of them has ever been in and they didn’t know what to do.

I was shocked and appalled to hear that one of our own police officers felt he had to yell at my daughter’s boyfriend as he was looking for the insurance card – let me correct myself, he stood there yelling at him to “hurry up get the insurance card,” then hovered over him yelling over and over to find the insurance card. Yelling, really, he felt it would do what, make him find it faster? It wasn’t his car.

During this, my daughter is sitting in the ambulance being checked out as she was not hurt but very shaken up. And wouldn’t you know the same policeman came over and asked the EMTs if he could get a statement from my daughter. Then he proceeded to belittle her because she was still crying and very upset and wasn’t going to be about to get anything out of her. I realize that the police see accidents all the time and do the best they can, however, is it an effective way to yell and belittle them to get what they need so they can move on to the next thing they need to do? Which by the way I found it impressive that for one wreck they needed five police cars to assist with the accident. Must of been a busy night.

We didn’t hear about the way the police treated the kids until later that night when we had a chance to get them home and relaxed.

Have we gotten so unfeeling and presumptuous that we treat everyone like they are a criminal and that they are trying to hide something? These kids were shook up and a bit dazed; the last person I expected to treat them like this was our own police officers. I would love nothing more then tell you the name of the officer, but I won’t because then I am no better then him and I refuse to lower myself.

I feel I have redeemed myself by writing this, but parents, you should prepare you own teenagers not to expect any understanding or a sympathetic ear if ever they get in a wreck here in Enumclaw.

Kim Hawkins

Enumclaw