[MainStreet]

Does anyone have any experience with police agencies along the coast? My first choice was Benzie County but I've learned that the sheriff is very unfavorable. Anyone know of credible police agencies in northwest Michigan?

[Bydand]

The only sheriff department I know even a little about is the Mason County Department. Laud Hartrum is the Sheriff and he is a good guy who is very active in the communities he serves. Every Deputy I have talked to likes him and respects his judgment.

[southernlady5464]

No I don't sweetie and neither should you (I'm a mom.)

Why not, I'm a mom and I have aim/yahoo/msn as well as skype. I use trillian to keep them all in one format. There is NOTHING wrong with having a chat program. I use it to keep in touch with other friends who are other moms. I use it to talk to security people who clean computers. I use it to talk to my partner in England who is part of the reason I have a web site up and running. He is also the reason I managed to learn linux and run my own server.

Chat programs can be used for very good reasons. Don't write them off just because MOST users are young and they mangle the language on there. Not all of us type screwy on chat programs. I type just as if I am writing letters to friends or corporations in chat and not use the l33t speak of the teens.

Even major corporations use chat as a quick and easy way to do real time meetings.

As to the original question, have you checked around the Downriver area and even into Monroe Co.? Liz

[Zmehappy]

Originally Posted by MainStreet

Does anyone have any experience with police agencies along the coast? My first choice was Benzie County but I've learned that the sheriff is very unfavorable. Anyone know of credible police agencies in northwest Michigan?

I don't, but we could use a border patrol to keep the Michigan people from jumping state!

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

Why not, I'm a mom and I have aim/yahoo/msn as well as skype. I use trillian to keep them all in one format. There is NOTHING wrong with having a chat program. I use it to keep in touch with other friends who are other moms. I use it to talk to security people who clean computers. I use it to talk to my partner in England who is part of the reason I have a web site up and running. He is also the reason I managed to learn linux and run my own server.

Chat programs can be used for very good reasons. Don't write them off just because MOST users are young and they mangle the language on there. Not all of us type screwy on chat programs. I type just as if I am writing letters to friends or corporations in chat and not use the l33t speak of the teens.

Even major corporations use chat as a quick and easy way to do real time meetings.

As to the original question, have you checked around the Downriver area and even into Monroe Co.? Liz

Ok....wow....you didn't understand my comment to the child. He or she comes here to get homework help (and on the wrong forum no less) and then openly invites "anyone" to write him/her at his/her email or IM him/her. This isn't a social site for bored teens and I certainly wouldn't want my child soliciting "chat" from what is clearly an adult forum. It's a public safety issue directed to a child. The truth is I have three chat programs. Sit with me one day at work and let me show you the tragic consequences of children soliciting communication from strange adults. And if you check his/her posts have been removed.

[southernlady5464]

And if you check his/her posts have been removed.

That's because this site requires anyone registered to be 18 and older. That poster broke a TOS by registering.

With that said, my daughter also had chat programs, I also followed the biggest rule of all. I kept the computer in a common area where I could see the screen and told her she was allowed to chat only if I could read over her shoulder (which she hates but dealt with it). And I would walk by at odd times and peer at what she was writing.

Chat programs are a given with teens. Rather than telling them they shouldn't, we need to educate the parents. Liz

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

That's because this site requires anyone registered to be 18 and older. That poster broke a TOS by registering.

With that said, my daughter also had chat programs, I also followed the biggest rule of all. I kept the computer in a common area where I could see the screen and told her she was allowed to chat only if I could read over her shoulder (which she hates but dealt with it). And I would walk by at odd times and peer at what she was writing.

Chat programs are a given with teens. Rather than telling them they shouldn't, we need to educate the parents. Liz

Exactly. I go one step further and have a keystroke logger that my teen is unaware of. I read everything and don't need to be over her shoulder. So we can agree that protecting kids is priority one. Hence, my comment to Slugger. It was a gentle hand showing him/her the door.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Bydand

The only sheriff department I know even a little about is the Mason County Department. Laud Hartrum is the Sheriff and he is a good guy who is very active in the communities he serves. Every Deputy I have talked to likes him and respects his judgment.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Bydand again. Thank you for this information. Mason County is a definite favorite. I was up there twice this summer and can't get enough of it. You've put a smile on my face this morning.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by Zmehappy

I don't, but we could use a border patrol to keep the Michigan people from jumping state!

Isn't that the truth! Maybe I should scrap law enforcement and go into community retention. All I'd have to do is show a slide show of my last 20 years outside Michigan and no one would leave!

[allbusiness]

Not NW Michigan, but Holland has been hiring. Lots of retirements. All these new cops look like a bunch of kids to me!