Bossier City Police and the Bossier Sheriff advise children and parents to keep safety in mind while trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Police Chief Shane McWilliams is urging motorists to be particularly watchful of Trick-or-Treaters that evening as they go door-to-door throughout neighborhoods.
“Halloween is a fun and enjoyable night for our children, and my deputies will be concentrating their patrol duties in residential areas to help keep families and children safe,” said Sheriff Julian Whittington. “I’m also asking motorists to be attentive to young trick-or-treaters and slow it down even more in residential areas with youngsters walking about on Halloween night. For residents passing out candy, be sure and leave your porch light on and remove obstacles from your sidewalks, porches or front yards that could cause children to trip and fall.”
Officials encourage parents to take advantage of organized, supervised Halloween events for their children and asks them to end door-to-door trick-or-treating by 8 p.m. as a courtesy to residents.
The Bossier City Police Department and Bossier Sheriff’s Office offer the following safety tips to parents whose children will be out Trick-or-Treating:
- Never allow children to trick-or-treat without responsible adult supervision.
- Always stay in groups.
- Children over the age of 12 responsible enough to go without parents should stay in groups and follow an agreed upon route.
- Ensure costumes fit well so they don’t obscure visibility and so children won’t trip or fall.
- Keep costumes simple. Avoid long, fancy costumes that may cause children to trip and fall.
- Carry a flashlight or glow stick.
- Trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods, stay in well-lit areas and use sidewalks whenever possible.
- Use sidewalks and stay out of the street whenever possible.
- Wear reflective clothing or bright costumes.
- Trick-or-treat only in familiar neighborhoods.
- Don’t allow children to eat treats until a responsible grownup examines them first.
- Call police if any suspicious activity occurs, or if candy is suspected to be tainted.
- Residents are urged to hand out only manufactured, sealed candy.
Whittington also reminds residents that sex offenders are not allowed to participate in Halloween activities. While they are allowed to decorate their house, they should not have their porch lights on, wear masks or hand out candy.
“Parents can go to our website and conduct a search to see where sex offenders reside in their neighborhood or the area where the children will be trick-or-treating,” said Sheriff Whittington. “If you know of a sex offender participating in Halloween events, leave that area and contact law enforcement as soon as possible.”
The website is www.bossiersheriff.com/sex-offenders. You can also check with the Louisiana State Police website at www.lsp.org/ under “Sex Offender Registry” to locate sex offenders in other parishes throughout Louisiana.
Additionally, sex offenders are prohibited from wearing hoods, masks, or facial disguises anytime, but especially during other holidays, such as Mardi Gras, Easter or Christmas
