The Bossier City Police Department is advising children and parents to exercise safety and care while Trick-or-Treating on Halloween night this Friday, October 31, 2014.
Motorists are urged to be especially watchful for Trick-or-Treaters that evening as they go door-to-door throughout the city.
The police department also encourages 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.
Additionally, the Bossier City Police Department is offering 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.
- Keep costumes simple. Avoid long, fancy costumes that may cause children to trip and fall.
- 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.
Also, Sheriff Julian Whittington reminds parish residents that sex offenders are not allowed to participate in Halloween activities. They should not have their porch lights on, wear masks or hand out candy.
“Parents can go to our website at http://www.bossiersheriff.com/sex-offenders 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.”
You can also check with the Louisiana State Police website at http://www.lsp.org/ under “Sex Offender Registry” to locate sex offenders in other parishes throughout Louisiana.
“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 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.”
