Cops educate kids on bullying

HESPERIA • San Bernardino County Sheriff's Hesperia officials have started offering an anti-bullying program to schools and other community organizations.

Deputy Frank Hardin and public information officer Susan Rose recently presented an anti-bullying program at Cottonwood Elementary, where they educated students on bullying.

“He explained what bullying is, who bullies are and how people are bullied — especially in these days of social media and cell phones,” Rose said of Hardin.

Hardin and Rose spent time talking to the sixth-grade class about how to identify bullying and what to do if someone is being bullied.

Hardin also pointed out that bullying can be a crime. Depending on the nature of the bullying and whether or not it becomes physical, students can be arrested and possibly charged with a variety of offenses including making criminal threats or assault and battery, he said.

“But I’d rather try to explain to the kids right now what it is and that it can be a crime before it gets to that point,” Hardin said.

While the Hesperia Unified School District’s school police also offers programs on bullying, Hardin and Rose said they are willing to speak to any school or youth organization on the topic if school officials or group leaders request it.

“Individual parents who feel their children may be getting bullied or are bullying other children can come by the station and make an appointment so we can talk to them,” Hardin said.

Anyone who would like to request Hardin and Rose’s anti-bullying program is asked to contact the Hesperia station at (760) 947-1500.

Beatriz E. Valenzuela may be reached at (760) 951-6276 or at BValenzuela@VVDailyPress.com.

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