Private school parents question cop truancy policy

WASHINGTON - Some parents are questioning D.C. Police policy after several private school students were picked up by a truancy officer and transported in a van without seat belts.

The incident happened in November, when four children who attend St. Peter's Interparish School on Capitol Hill were stopped by a Metropolitan Police Department Truancy Officer and asked why they weren't in school.

The students, two 8-year-olds and two 12-year-olds, told the officer that they attend a private Catholic school, which was closed that day, and asked the officer to call their parents.

However, the officer insisted on driving the students to their homes so she could speak with one of the parents face-to-face.

According to the parents of the children, the police van did not have enough working seat belts for all of the kids.

Tracey Peranich's daughter was the oldest of the four students.

"I thought that was a little odd for a police van that was carrying kids," Peranich told WTOP.

Paul Woodhull, the father of three of the students, said the officer should have first called the school or one of the parents.

"Instead, she put them in a van and she transported them in a van without seat belts," Woodhull says.

D.C. Police are investigating the incident.

In a written statement, Gwen Crump, acting director of communications, tells WTOP the van did have seat belts.

"During an inspection today of the First District truancy van, it was determined that there is no equipment malfunction of seat belts. The matter is being investigated to determine whether members secured the children in seat belts or whether the children unfastened the seat belts during the transport. We are unaware of any reported injuries to students during their transportation."

Crump said police policy is that private school students who are out of school on a day that public schools are in session must carry a letter from the school.

"If a child is excused or suspended from school, they are required to carry a notice indicating as such in case they are stopped. The Department is only informed of the status of the D.C. Public Schools. Efforts are being made to ensure that both charter and private schools provide information on a daily basis to the Patrol Services and School Security Bureau," Crump said.

Some parents find the requirement a bit excessive.

"If your school has a parent teacher conference that day, all of the children in your school are supposed to have a letter from the school that they carry with them?" Woodhull said. "It's crazy."

Peranich agrees.

"I don't think it's reasonable that they have to carry a note," Peranich said. "Kids are going to be out doing stuff and nobody is going to remember to pack a note."

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