Eunice Police Detective Jessica Tezeno recently completed training to become a certified juvenile officer and she has a tip for parents.
Tezeno, who started work as a juvenile officer in September 2017, completed a two-week course on June 29 to learn the basics in laws concerning juveniles.
Among her advice to parents is to be aware of what a child is doing with social media.
“Parents need to be aware of what and who their children are being in contact with,” she said.
“As a parent you never want to downplay the interactive communication with your children,” she said.
Parents can search Google to find information about their children.
“I tell any parent to know their children’s passwords,” she said.
Tezezo, who has served three years with the Eunice Police starting as a jailer, said if parents have difficulty accessing a device the can contact police for assistance or the state attorney general’s office.
Veteran Eunice detective Robert Brickley also said parents should monitor the social media used by their children.
“Most parents, a majority, a do not monitor their children’s social media,” Brickley said. “That’s an issue.”
Brickley also praised Tezeno.
“She is doing a remarkable job and she fits that job very well. I’m very proud of her,” he said.
“What I like about Jessica is not only does she hold a child accountable for their action, but their parents as well,” he said.
Discipline is a not a duty for police, he said.
“We are here to enforce the laws of the state of Louisiana,” he said. “If their behavior is a direct result of your actions, well then...”
Tezeno’s job sometimes involve the uglier side of human relations such as domestic abuse between parents and children.
Behavior inside schools may bring her involvement, but more likely that will fall to the school resource officer, she said. That officer is Lt. Stephanie Myers.
She also handles issues such as molestation, child deaths, court order enforcement and delinquency.
But she notes in a department the size of Eunice, all officers are subject to answering any call.
On other issues:
— Bullying. “Make sure you know your child is being bullied because bullying is a consistent pattern. Bullying can’t happen today and then is not happening tomorrow,” she said.
Parents have to investigate a child’s report of bullying, she said.
If bullying is occurring at school, contact school officials, she said.
If it is occurring outside school, contact police, she said.
— Runaways. “The main complaint that I’ve been coming across is lot of kids, I’m not going to call them runaways, but they are leaving home without permission.”
Children may think it is cool, but skipping school or running away can lead to trouble, she said.
— Discipline. Like Brickley, Tezeno said police cannot be the disciplinarian.
“I cannot make your child obey you,” she said.
Tezeno said it is tough for parents, particularly single parents, who are coping with a job, children and getting on with their lives.
A parent can spank a child, but she cautioned that there is a boundary to physical punishment that must not be crossed.
“Don’t go off and hit them everywhere,” she said.
