Cops In MA Sent To Retrieve Overdue Library Books From 5-Year-Old
- Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:18am by
Mike Opelka
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Can it really be true? Police dispatched to retrieve overdue library books from a five-year-old? It is.
The chief of police in Charlton, Massachusetts sent a uniformed police officer to pay a visit to a home and demand the return of two overdue library books.
A sergeant from the Charlton Police Department was dispatched to the home of Shannon Benoit and her five-year-old daughter. The sergeant’s task: to investigate two library books that were a few months overdue. The CBS affiliate in Boston covered the story:
The books were recovered and returned to the shelves for use by other Charlton residents.
Was this a good use of police assets? Even the man assigned to the case was not so certain. He told the CBS reporter;
“Nobody wanted to, on this end to get involved in it,” says Sgt. Dowd. “But the library contacted us, and the chief delegated, and apparently I was one of the low men on the totem pole.”
It has been just over 105 years since the library in Charlton, MA was involved in a controversy. Back then, the hubbub was about the removal of Mark Twain’s short story “Eve’s Diary.” The problem with the Mark Twain book was related to the illustrations of Eve in her “summer costume.”
Oddly enough, the ban on ”Eve‘s Diary’ lasted until October of 2011:
Does the use of police power to enforce library rules sound vaguely familiar? It should.
Back in 1997, an episode of Seinfeld featured Detective Bookman of the New York Public Library making a visit to Jerry’s apartment:
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Comments (80)
schroeder123
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:04amShes lucky she wasn’t taken out and shot ! Ha !
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:27pmThis is the police state for ya.
They want to kick in your door with SWAT over library books!
?!?!?!??!??!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!!??!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!??!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!?
Report Post »Regdunlop
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:47pm“Nobody wanted to, on this end to get involved in it,” says Sgt. Dowd. “But the library contacted us, and the chief delegated, and apparently I was one of the low men on the totem pole.”
Report Post »Yeah V-Man, that sounds real aggresive to me. Idiot.
kellied
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:53pmYour better off just buying books at yard sales in MA. I wouldnt go to that library, no way!! I mean they are taking people to court, they find a way to screw up everything.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:31pmThis little girl was lucky they didn’t force were to perform community service like singing the 1% song.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:36pmThrow her in JAIL ! Chop her head off !
Oh, come ON!!!
This is BEYOND ridiculous!
ANY law enforcement officer should have taken one look at this and said, “really?”
Followed by, “If this isn’t April 1st, then, with all due respect…”
92 deputies turned in their badges in support of sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Report Post »I think I would have been the one to turn in my badge in support of a 5yr old with overdue library books. Sheesh!
skipmontesjr
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:34pmLOL…Yeah under Sharia Law….lol..“No one shall be late on their books or face 50 lashes with a bookmark”….This was a waste of time for the police and a stupid move on the library….
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:38pm.
Report Post »I heard they “threw the book” at him.
KangarooJack
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:31amChewing gum in line (shoots) Man, he’s strict!
This poor 5yr old-gonna be afraid of the poe poe
Report Post »merchantsailor
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:44amCriminalized at age 5
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:41pm.
When the city has resources to send cops after library books,
it’s time for a BIG tax cut.
Good thing they didn’t send him to jail and release a murderer to make room.
Report Post »rukdnme13
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 12:05pmKangaroo, don’t you mean Edgar Alan Poe,Poe?
Report Post »BeckaBrwnEyes
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:28amWell, on the surface, this sounds ridiculous. However, I have some questions: How many requests were made to the parents of this child for the return of the books? How many mailings, emails, phone calls, etc. were placed and over how long of a time? Were the requests simply ignored? If so, then by all means, go and get the books and return them to the taxpayers – which is where they belong. Books at libraries aren’t freebies for anyone to just grab and keep. They are meant to be read and returned, and parents are supposed to teach their children respect and honesty.
Report Post »Nunya Biz
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:10pmOMG it doesn’t matter! An overdue library book is NOT a criminal offense!! If it had been the mother would have been sued and issued a summons to go to court. This did NOT happen. The library should have sucked it up like so many other libraries do – bar them from ever borrowing any other material whatsoever. Period.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:02pmHow expensive could a book that a 5yr old was reading be? Now how much did it cost taxpayers to send a cop to retrieve the book? And was that cop needed elsewhere while he was retrieving the book?
Report Post »It doesn’t sound like this benefitted the tax payer!
Dinkiecb
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 5:26pmMy question is .. how long does the MOTHER think they can keep the books????
Report Post »larrylarrylarry
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:02am“They will take my book away only when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!”
Report Post »piper60
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:54amIs it any wonder, that when my husband and I moved to Massachusetts, people around here asked why?
Report Post »321481
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:17amThis is the state that Romney claims he did great things for in his leadership, it is a train wreck, socialist policies are a way of life, can you imagine the whole country being Massachuesettitified by this kind of stuff then there is the high taxes, he will compare everything he will do with his bench mark Massachusetts.
Report Post »child13
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:19pmI can imagine the whole country being socialized… have you been sleeping since OBAMA took office? Perhaps you are so narrow minded as to think that Romney as governor (way back then) somehow spread to the rest of the country? If he were to break wind in Iowa, will you blame the earthquakes around the world on him too? Just wondering. It’s honestly laughable that you will try to blame him for any of this mess. He wasn’t the President for the past 3 years. He didn’t start this wave of spending my great great great grand kids money. Romney didn’t run on “change”. That “change” cost four of my siblings their homes, jobs, and for one, his wife who left because of the stress of that “change”. That my friend was caused by the socialist who probably still thinks we have 56 states, you know the one in the White House. Perhaps make a difference in the world by opening your eyes and look for the guy who has had to make the hard decisions. The guy who has had to fix economic issues as his lifelong job. (And who has gotten flack for being successful at it.) A guy who hasn’t cheated on his wife, and who has run a state, that didn’t fail. Romney 2012!
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:15amSince there was no father mentioned it is the mothers fault, she is responsible for her kid, forget about the kid go after the mother.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:22amMost libraries just charge the cost of the book to the person who borrowed and or lost said book. Not a police matter and a waste of taxpayer funds. Another reason not to live in MA, bunch of commies.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:00amand the police chief sould just have told the library that collecting overdue books isn’t a police matter. ‘Just’ another case of the authorituh’s going too far. At lest the officer didn’t break down the door and go in guns blazing- seems to be the only person involved with any common sense.
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:04amThe following book have no late fee charges, Mein Kampf, The communist manifesto, Saul Alinisky’s Rule for Radicals, Dreams of My Father & The Audacity of Hope. All Highly recommended by BHO.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:09pmConservatives should read those books too. Know thy enemy!
Report Post »thekuligs
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:59amWhile I agree these seems like a massive over use of force–some of the blame should be placed on the girls mother (I’d say parents, but there was no mention of a father) The library books were months over due. Months. That means the mother had probably ignored; emails, written notices, and phone calls. Yet she chose to ignore them.
Report Post »Drakkhanlord
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:45am5yr old or illegal…?
something seriously wrong here people…
Report Post »Drakkhanlord
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:58amthe officer could have said NO…
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 3:06pmYes, he could have just said “NO, to the emerging Police State”
Oh that is Right, Mass. Already is one.
DRAK!
Report Post »a_lady_patriot
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:39amTime to cut the Charlton police budget – obviously they don’t have enough real crime in the town.
Once again my state is an embarrassment!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:21amBut first they spent 18,000 .00 to send up a homeland security drone, to make sure the child and her mother were armed with illegall assault rifles and they got out the radar machine that sees thru wallls, kept the house under survailance for three days…. Then sent in SWAT teams to safely but quickly subdue and taser the child , who was in an upstairs bedroom … Reading what appeared to be an overdue Dr Suess , green eggs and ham book, unfortunately the mother had to be taken out in the process, both books were returned and the mothers body was buried at sea fromm the carrier .. Uss Vincennes….. The biggest threat to our freedom, is our own government…. Not Iran, wake up people !!!!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:16amThis happened in Massachusetts. ‘Nuff said.
Now, had the child driven off a bridge into the water while in a drunken stupor leaving a passenger trapped inside to drown, then all would have been fine.
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:30amGota luv Kennedy references :)
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 7:10amOr the Lt Gov wrecking his state owned car by falling asleep at the wheel. He was in an area that he had no official state business in, early in the morning with no logical reason for being there.
In MA you need to be a politician to wreck a state car or to drown a “party girl” and hide out until you are sober.
OMG
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:13am.
They would have had to arrest me, right after the surgeon removed my foot from that nice Sgt.’s behind…………..
C’mon Man a libary book?…………….
Report Post »Just A Private
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:36amSmall man Syndrome
Report Post »LANE131
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:12amIn other NEWS the town’s CRACK house is still up and running, as it has been for years.
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:12amYou don’t expect a liberal, ‘hug me’ cop to go after those poor 1% drug dealers, do you? Five year olds are much more their speed, plus they are too young to carry a gun…………..
Report Post »The Silversmith
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:06amI agree that the police have gone too far raiding lemonade stands and such, but this is a small town and it is not unusual for police to follow up things like this. They did in my hometown. Everyone knows each other and it’s no big deal. I think if we dig deeper, it was not a big deal.
That said. It seems like the authorities are intent on criminalizing the innocent and liberating the guilty. Interesting days ahead. Happy New Year!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:57amI guess the library does not have a phone to call the child’s mother.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:53amTase the little law breaker…..put him on the rack…..send him to the gallows! OFF WITH HIS HEAD,
Report Post »hud
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:55amTazr would have been perfect topper for this sad tale of woe. Figuring no phones in this town. Live in the backward south, but they call when my books go over due
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:38amThey should‘a sent a SWAT team and had snipers in the neighbor’s yard… then…
Report Post »hud
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:50amYeah, film a SWAT team tasering the little recalcitrant.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:51amMoney to throw away????? On a five year old???? For over due books at a public library for which the parents pay taxes?????????????????????????? HELLLLOOOOOOOO, anybody with a soul still intact live in that state?
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:57amThe library police, just what every city needs. I hope they were getting time and a half for wasting their time. MA must have zero crime if this is all the police have to do – congrats MA on continuing to be a joke.
Report Post »child13
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:07pmI love your comment on anyone there having a soul, and yet your user name says it all, “kickagrandma”. Wow, the hypocrisy is starting early in 2012.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:51amunfreaking believable !!! a 5 year old with over due books should have gotten a coupon to a ice cream shop,at least she was learning some thing,not just how to become a gang member. wow,unbelievable, the office was just doing his job and he was probably embarrassed, yes the books should have been returned,but the police,the librarian should be fired asap!!! unfreaking believable!!!!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:50amThe Police State is in place and most people don’t even recognize it. Even my small town has a SWAT team…I for one am counting on the police officers to snap to their senses. But I know a lot of them are Union thugs, Obamabots and uneducated in the Libeerties found in the Constitution. Maybe I am a dreamer…
Report Post »Regdunlop
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:23amThey are probably more educated about “libeerties” found in the constitution than you are at spelling moron. Dumb azz.
Report Post »Clownshoes
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:38am@ Regdunlop
Report Post »“They are probably more educated about “libeerties” found in the constitution than you are at spelling moron. Dumb azz.”
It seems people who live in the glass houses… So let us look at your little comment, shall we? Looks like you forgot to capitalize “Constitution” as well as the comma in the sentence “….you are at spelling, moron.”
I could dig deeper but I think that was enough. I hope you have a wonderful day, internet troll.
Regdunlop
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:24amYou to clown!! Thanks for finding the one error in my post there, I will try harder next time.
Report Post »BornJewishMuslimByFaith
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:47amI never like to rent or borrow anything. There are always hidden fees and this is just ridiculousness on the libraries part.
Report Post »captaincameron
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:39amCharlton, MA, must have no other crimes. What time did this waste of money and resources take place? If someone was attacked, a business robbed, a house broken into–whatever–at the same time, the victims should be furious with the police.
Report Post »Even if nothing happened during that time, the entire town should be furious. Let’s say that, with benefits, the policeman makes $50K a year. For a 40 hour work week, that comes to $25 an hour. How long did it take him to get there? And what of the cost of gas and wear and tear on his vehicle?
These are tax dollars at work.
Fortunately, there are not ludicrous wastes of our federal tax dollars.
Oh, wait…
4xeverything
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:37amA sign of the times?
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:50amIt certainly is…another example of Nazist type behavior of the police state
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:32amDid he have to draw his gun to get the kid to turn over the books?
chief of police should be removed. What a waste.
Report Post »