Two local police chiefs have similar views about safety when it comes to Halloween and trick-or-treating. Moorhead Police Chief Fred Randall extrapolated the observance of costumes and candy to larger issues of depravity and disregard. “I really wish cities and towns would adopt an ordinance where trick-or-treating only took place between the hours of 5 and 6,” he said. “With all of the violence and ill-will going on in society, something like Halloween just gives people another excuse to act up.”
This time of year, darkness comes a little earlier, yet the most vulnerable among us crave both the treats they can gather going from door to door and the mythical characters they can become. No matter how fanciful the occasion is for children, Indianola Police Chief Ronald Sampson advises adults to have their little ones “Pay attention to traffic and have some type of reflective gear or a flashlight handy.”
Both top cops expressed the need for trick-or-treaters to err on the side of familiarity. “Don’t go off the beaten path,” Sampson said. “And children should always have an adult with them.”
Randall echoed the advice. “Be familiar with your surroundings and don’t go into areas that you’re not familiar with,” Randall said. “Trick-or-treat where there is plenty of light and stay away from dark areas.”
Sampson said that it is a good idea to find out which downtown-area merchants will be providing items for Halloween because businesses and locations in these areas have plenty of light and are near the police department.
One final piece of advice for residential trick or treaters is, “If you don’t see a porch light turned on, don’t go to the door,” Sampson said. “More likely than not, those people aren’t participating in trick-or-treat.”
