St. Lucie sheriff asks parents to volunteer at bus stops

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Last November, two boys told police they watched a man abduct a little girl at their bus stop in Port St. Lucie and drive away in a white van.

The story sparked a massive police search with federal agents and K-9’s from across the state.

The story, it turns out, was a hoax. But it got Sgt. Chris Cicio thinking.

"It created a large community awareness to the dangers of abduction and parents became concerned," said Sgt. Cicio, a deputy with the St. Lucie County sheriff's office.

He’d served as a school resource deputy for years, so Sgt. Cicio was aware of the dangers kids face going to and from school.

"When they’re at the bus stop they’re pretty much not being monitored," he said.

Together with a concerned parent he brainstormed the “Stop Watch” program, soliciting parents to serve as sheriff’s volunteers.

"I see it working for parents who are currently going with their kids to the bus stop to simply be eyes and ears. We’re not looking for a large time commitment maybe during the 15 20 minutes they're at the bus stop already."

The parents would wear shirts with the sheriff’s logo and carry cell phones so they could all in what they see. They would receive background checks and training.

"If they’re at this bus stop and there’s a car that keeps driving by and they keep looking at the kids but have no particular reason to be here, that’s one thing they could call us about, have an officer come and check that person out," said Sgt. Cicio.

In recent years, several students have been hit and even killed by cars while walking to bus stops. Sgt. Cicio says Stop Watch volunteers could help remind students to steer clear of traffic in those dark early morning hours.

If you'd like to learn more or volunteer for the program, you can contact the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Crime Prevention Office at 772-871-5303.