Information on Friday incident following afternoon dismissal

[Edison K-8 School Parent Council]

Dear Parents,

All of you should have received a phone message ("Connect Ed")*** on Friday
evening from Principal Driscoll about an incident that occurred on Friday
afternoon soon after school dismissal.

A student who was walking home on Friday on Foster Street near the corner with
Glenmont Road passed by a man in a van who asked him to get into the vehicle.
The student said no and ran back towards school -- telling a trusted adult (the
crossing guard) about the incident. The student was unharmed and the van
appears to have driven away before police arrived.

The Boston Police Department is investigating the incident. The police and the
school are seeking additional information about the vehicle and driver.

The vehicle was a white van, but there is no additional information about its
make, model, license plate number, or any other markings.

The driver of the vehicle was a Hispanic male with a mustache. There is an
indication that he has parked at a similar location previously.

If you have any possible information about this vehicle and/or driver I would
like to encourage you to contact either Principal Mary Driscoll (617-635-8436)
or the BPD D-14 station (617-343-4260). Boston Police also offer an anonymous
call line (1-800-494-TIPS).

One or more Community Service Officers from D-14 station will be visiting the
school this week in order to talk to children about safety tips when they are
around strangers.

I would like to encourage parents to talk to their children about how to deal
with strangers. Some guidelines are provided, for example, online at the site
of the National Crime Prevention Council:

http://www.ncpc.org/topics/violent-crime-and-personal-safety/strangers

Sincerely,
-Michael Pahre
co-chair, SPC

*** If you did not receive a phone message on Friday, then please contact me at
pa...@comcast.net with your child's name, classroom #, and your current phone
number so that the school can update your records.

--
Edison K-8 School Parent Council, SY2010-2011:
Michael Pahre, co-chair Lindsay Johnson, co-chair
Jennifer Jaen, secretary
Daniel Lee, co-treasurer Joy Gould, co-treasurer

[Vanessa]

Personally, I REALLY appreciate this email outreach. It's been difficult not having information and all the speculation that surrounds a situation like this. I am also thankful that the local police will be working with the Edison students regarding safety as I think we parents can share info with our kids but it tends to be more clearly heard coming from "the police" rather than mom and dad.
Thanks again!!!

Vanessa
Sent from my iPhone