Michigan police departments checking kids who are home alone

DOWAGIAC, Mich. - Several southwest Michigan police departments are checking up on kids who are now home alone while their parents are off at work. This comes as schools and colleges announced closures earlier this month.

Daycares are an option for younger kids, but older kids do have the option to stay home alone.

That’s why several police departments in southwest Michigan are lending a helping hand.

Dowagiac police departments posted on Facebook with an option for parents to call the department and police officers can go to their home to do welfare a check on their kids.

“I know that Bangor, Hartford and I believe Coloma. There’s probably more but those are the ones I’m aware of,” Steve Grinnewald, Director of Public Safety for the Dowagiac police department said.

Grinnewald said you just have to call the department and tell them each child’s name, age, parent contact, and address and what you want the officer to specifically check for. You can even set up an approximate time.

He said now that schools are closed, the school resource officers are also able to help with these welfare checks.

They don’t go into residences unless parents want them to and will contact parents when the visit is over.

“There’s a lot of things to think about and a lot of things to think over right now for everybody, take that portion of their kids being safe out of their thinking. Let them know that it’s safe and they are okay,” he said.

They have done a couple so far but are willing and eager to do as many as they can as more parents call in.