Child Abuse Awareness in Alpena
(Photo Courtesy/Mike Beiermeister) Students from Alcona High School plant pinwheels to raise awareness for child abuse and neglect during the month of April.
ALPENA, MI. – “It’s our duty to protect our kids. They don’t have a voice of their own, so we have to be the voice for them.” said MSP Tpr Dihle.
According to a MSP report from 2020, 251 reports of child abuse were filed in Alpena. This was during the pandemic, meaning children were rarely around other adults. Reports have since elevated admits the end of the pandemic. – further proving that child abuse is a real issue in Alpena. People often avoid reporting crimes of this nature because it can be uncomfortable to point fingers.
Tpr Dihle says that hesitation often stops people from reporting. “There are a lot of good people in this community. I wish they would not be as hesitant to report a case of child neglect. It’s not a very easy thing to do for anyone; even a law enforcement officer. ”
Reporting cases of suspected neglect or abuse is a mandatory step in getting a child into a safer situation. “If you don’t speak up for the kids, no one else will. They need someone to call on their behalf to report it. If you don’t say anything, it will never get addressed, and they will never get the help they deserve.” said Tpr Dihle.
