Following the arrest of a Washoe County School District employee who is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old student, Reno Police are sharing advice for parents who want to take additional steps to protect their children.
Public Information Officer Chris Johnson told 2 News Nevada on Thursday that the majority of sex crimes against minors involve online, digital interactions, so parents should routinely check their child’s electronics.
“When I say being proactive – knowing who your child is talking to, understanding the new apps that the children are using, and looking at messages and looking at things that they are viewing to really take that proactive approach so that we can keep our children safe,” Johnson said.
Parental control settings and monitoring apps allow parents to remotely check on their kids’ devices. Parents can also physically search their child’s phone.
“If you as a parent say, ‘Hey, this is my phone or my tablet that I am going to allow you to use,’ then that doesn’t create that ownership and attachment to that device with that child,” Johnson said.
He added that parents should talk with their kids about online predatory behaviors.
“Be honest about it,” he said. “Be honest that people online are going to try to reach out to you, potentially to get you to do things you don’t want to do. Having that tough conversation with children in our community helps build the relationship between parents and children, but also helps build awareness because then your child is going to talk to their friends at school too.”
