With the events in Florida along with the recent attempted abductions in the City of Massillon, it is appropriate to remind parents of the importance of being vigilant concerning the safety of their children. This applies not only to the so called “stranger danger”, but to the more significant concern of danger to children from someone who they are acquainted with in some way. In 2004 there were two (2) reported abduction attempts that occurred in Jackson Township, and in both cases, adults were the victims. From the incident in the Belden Village area, a Timothy Peavy was arrested and committed a similar incident in the Alliance area. Investigation by detectives from the Jackson Township Police Department, Alliance Police Department and the Ohio Adult Authority revealed that Peavy had recently been released from prison and had been classified as a sexually oriented offender.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the national Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommended that parents:

Teach your children their full name, address and telephone number.

Teach your children how to make a long distance call (both directly to you using the area code and by dialing "0" for operator).

Know the routes your child takes to and from school and other activities.

Be involved in your child's activities by volunteering at school, clubs, and sporting events.

Participate in a neighborhood watch program.

Before leaving your child in the care of a day-care, preschool, baby-sitter, or youth organization, check their references and qualifications. Ask if they conduct pre-employment background checks.

Teach your child what to do if approached by anyone. Common approaches are offering a ride, gifts, candy, asking the child to look for a lost pet or claiming that the child's parent has asked them to bring the child home because of an emergency.

Listen to your child. Don't disregard their fears. Instead, let them know you take their fears and concerns seriously.

In Ohio, the Federal Requirements of Megans Law, which mandates sex offender community notification, is handled by the Stark County Sheriff’s Office on their web site. This can be accessed from a link on the Jackson Township Police web site at www.jtpd.com under the important links tab.

The following prevention tips are from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids: