A Mother’s Worst Fear

To the Editor:

I wanted to take the time to thank all the officers and anyone else that was involved at the Newtown Police Department in helping to locate my son who was “lost” the day after Thanksgiving.

My son, who will remain nameless, took off that afternoon heading off to a friend’s house on his dirt-bike. He was told to return before dark. Within a few hours after sunset, several phone calls later and a drive along any possible path that he could’ve taken with numerous inquiries along the way, a mother’s worst fear started to take hold. Six hours after he should’ve been home, I finally realized that he really was nowhere to be found. Thinking he may have never made it to his friend’s house, I pictured him lying somewhere hurt in the cold and dark on some dirt path. I finally resigned myself to needing more help than my family could give. I called the Newtown Police, and within minutes, Officer Lou Ferreira arrived. When asked for a description, I realized I didn’t even know what he had on! The officer was patient and very thorough and reassuring. With a search in progress along a dirt trail through the woods that ended without results, the officer persisted that I try every contact my son could have in town. After a few calls ending with the one I was so sure he wouldn’t have contact with, my son was “found” at the mall!

My son is not five but fifteen and it was so unlike him not to have called to let me know where he was. I did not call the police until all efforts on our part were exhausted. I truly believed that he would shortly show up with his sheepish grin saying that he just lost track of the time!

Again thank you all for your help in making this a truly thankful Thanksgiving!

PS: Anyone looking for a good dirt-bike that’s for sale?

Sincerely

Terry Coulter

7 Adams Hill Lane, Newtown                           November 28, 2000