The Meanies Win Grand Prize For Locking Their Children Out

I am pleased to announce the first recipients of what may well be the first award of its kind.

But hold your applause. This is, after all, a column about crime, about bad guys.

Thus, today we launch "The Bad Parent Award."

The winners didn't do anything special. Instead, they are being recognized for deeds that are part of their everyday life. And given our overburdened and often ineffective social-service system, we can expect these deeds to be passed down from generation to generation. Kind of a family tradition.

There are several contenders from Federal Way alone who have been culled from police reports in recent weeks. The dad who beat and choked his infant daughter because she was crying and broke his wife's nose when she protested. Or the folks who left a scared 8-year-old home alone because she didn't do dishes fast enough.

But no, no, the grand prize goes to a couple we'll call the Meanies.

The Meanies have a neat trick for keeping their belongings intact. They lock their three children - 9, 10 and 11 - out of the house, come sun, come rain, come dinner time; these kids can always count on not having a home to come home to.

Mrs. Meanie told King County police that she grew up with locked doors. (A special "Bad Parent" award in absentia goes to Mrs. Meanie's parents.)

Besides, Mrs. Meanie told police she has mink coats hanging just inside the front door and doesn't want them getting stolen or damaged.

She also told police she wants to get rid of her 10-year-old stepdaughter, who fights with the other kids.

Mr. Meanie told police that he keeps a jug of water outside for the kids. Good, we wouldn't want anyone to think the children were being neglected.

Neighbors who have fed the kids when they've been locked out at dinner time complained to Child Protective Services Aug. 6.

Police notified CPS again Aug. 13, after a neighbor took in the locked-out 10-year-old during a rainstorm.

CPS says it plans to investigate but hasn't yet because the case isn't an emergency, said area manager Ken Pattis. Situations in which children's lives are in jeopardy must take priority, he said.

Sad, but true. Still, neglect is nothing authorities should neglect. In Puyallup, CPS received 11 complaints that two young children were being left alone, but never removed those children from their home. Last month, the 5-year-old boy and baby girl died during a fire, allegedly while their parents were out buying beer.

Now, the only issue is what award to bestow upon the Meanies and future honorees. Perhaps a heavy plaque that they can use to knock some sense into their heads?

I await your suggestions.

CRIMEBUSTERS, by Times South bureau police reporter Christy Scattarella, appears Wednesday in South Times.