Lax parenting real cause of recent Myrtle Beach unrest

I read an article in which two young men we're being interviewed at　1 in the morning. One of them was 14. They we're upset about the police presence on Ocean Boulevard and the curfew. Why would a parent allow their young child to be out late walking around in a town far from home?　

Parents, not all, but a large percentage, just allow their children to do what they want, when they want, no supervision or guidance.　

I served as a Myrtle Beach police officer for more than 27 years. Don't blame the city's leadership. Let's put the blame squarely in its place.　The parents of kids need to parent and not leave that responsibility up to the police, teachers or anyone else. Speaking from experience, by the time I had to deal with kids on the streets, it was almost always too late.　

Our local law enforcement community works very hard for little money. They want to make their community a better place. They live here, too.　

I know the saying, it takes a village to raise a child. But we don't live in a fairy tale world.

This story was originally published July 4, 2017 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Lax parenting real cause of recent Myrtle Beach unrest."