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Resident raises concern about adults and children gathering near Simmons Bank; police say children not in immediate danger
Summary
A Collierville resident on Sept. 8 asked the Board of Mayor and Aldermen what the town is doing about adults and children who regularly gather at the corner of Simmons Bank and Pep Boys; police said officers have performed more than 60 welfare checks since January and that the Department of Children's Services found no immediate safety concerns.
A Collierville resident on Sept. 8 urged the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to clarify what the town is doing about adults and children who regularly gather at the corner of Simmons Bank and Pep Boys.
Melissa Heisey, who identified herself as a Collierville resident at 50 Hinton Cove, told the board she was “very concerned about the children that are under, I would consider, weather duress and educational duress” and asked what the town has done and what the community can do to help.
Mayor Frasier invited Chief Lane of the Collierville Police Department to respond. Chief Lane said officers have stopped or checked on the group more than 60 times since January and have offered transportation to shelters and other assistance. “We check on the welfare of the kids, and we offer transportation to shelters, anything that we can do,” he said. Lane said police had contacted the Department of Children's Services four times; DCS inspected the children and each time “told us … that everything is okay, that there's nothing wrong.”
Assistant Chief Townsend (identified in the meeting as Assistant Chief Townsend Boat) told the board he and officers have tried to offer help directly. He said officers asked a man at the location “what can we do to help get you and your family off the street?” and that the man refused offers of help. Townsend said officers verified that the children are homeschooled and are properly registered.
Chief Lane described the department’s response as compassionate but constrained by law. “We can only do what the law allows us to do. And until they violate the law, we can't can't make an arrest or or anything like that,” Lane said. He added that if officers saw children in danger they would act.
Heisey told the board she was gathering ideas because “winter is coming as well.” Chief Lane said the department will continue to check on the families and reiterated that officers are open to community ideas and assistance; he offered to provide his contact information for follow-up.
No formal action or directive was taken at the meeting; the exchange took place during the citizen comment portion and not as an agenda item. The board did not refer the matter to a committee or direct staff to prepare a report at that time.
