By Detective Detrick Mott
Recently in the news, citizens were asking the question, “Where are the parents?” which was reserved for conversations about teenagers running wild in the streets during "Takeover". It was a question rooted in accountability, structure, and guidance. But after witnessing the behavior surrounding the Detroit Tigers' home opener, I finally have my answer: the parents are out there too, and they’re part of the MF problem.
As a middle-aged man who has spent
decades in law enforcement, I can say this without hesitation: I have never seen
adult women, particularly middle-aged women, conduct themselves in such a
reckless, public, and unapologetic manner. Fighting in the streets, yelling,
escalating minor disputes into full-blown chaos, all while surrounded by
crowds, cameras, and young people and men watching. This isn’t just embarrassing,
it’s dangerous. And more importantly, it’s disheartening.
Let’s be clear: children do not learn
behavior in a vacuum. They learn by watching. They learn from what is modeled,
tolerated, and celebrated. When young people see adults, especially women who are supposed to represent maturity, grace, dignity, stability, and guidance, engaging in public violence, it destroys the very foundation of discipline and respect. It sends a message that chaos is acceptable, that emotional control is
optional, and that accountability is nonexistent.
What was captured in that video on social
media is not an isolated incident. It is a symptom of a much larger problem, a
cultural breakdown that is playing out across urban communities nationwide. We
are seeing what I call a role reversal of responsibility.
The very people who should be leading, mentoring, and correcting behavior are
now participating in the same dysfunction they once condemned. That’s not evolution,
that’s regression.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: when
adults act like this, law enforcement is left to clean up a problem that should
have never reached the streets. Police are not supposed to be surrogate
parents. We are not supposed to be the first line of discipline for grown
adults or children who should already know how to conduct themselves. But in
today’s environment, officers are increasingly forced into that role, responding
to disorder, breaking up fights, and restoring order in situations that basic
self-control should have prevented.
So how do police respond? The answer is
simple, even if it’s not popular enforcement.
When behavior crosses the line into criminal conduct, it must be addressed
accordingly. Disorderly conduct, assault, and public disturbances are not
“just moments.” They are violations of the law that demand a response. And when
enforcement is consistent, predictable, and unapologetic, it sends a message
that the streets are not a playground for reckless behavior.
But enforcement alone is not enough.
What's needed is a cultural correction. Adults need to reclaim their
role as community leaders. That means modeling discipline, exercising
restraint, and understanding that every public action has a ripple effect. You
cannot demand respect from the next generation while displaying behavior that
undermines it.
We also need to stop excusing this
conduct. Too often, it gets dismissed as “just a fight,” “just having fun,” or
“just how things are now.” Now this is how things have been allowed
to become. There is a difference. And anything that is allowed can also be
corrected, but only if people are willing to confront it head-on.
What I saw surrounding that home opener
was more than just a few individuals acting out it was a snapshot of a deeper
issue. A community where the lines of responsibility have blurred. Where
adulthood no longer guarantees maturity. And where young people are taught,
through observation, that disorder is normal.
So, the next time someone asks, “Where
are the parents?”
look around. They’re
in the crowd. They’re in the streets. And until they decide to lead rather than participate,
this cycle will continue.
Law
enforcement will do its job. We will respond. We will enforce. We will restore
order where it breaks down. But make no mistake, the real solution doesn’t
start with the police. It starts with the adults who choose, every day, whether
they will be an example… or a warning.
PS…
take y’all ass back home and raise your children/grandchildren and be a steward
to the community.
Jondell, D. (n.d.). [Video showing public altercation during Detroit Tigers home opener] [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/derron.jondell.3/posts/pfbid0MvrL1jyZbFCvUn33femprEAhM1anR6UjfM2GzFTVcTVqixTAFCcPpMWax7pMJTN7l
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