IPD Sgt. Terry Hall to speak
Healthy Families to sponsor speaker on child abuse prevention
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Family Connection's "Healthy Families" will sponsor Indianapolis Police Department Sgt. Terry Hall in a program on Monday, April 18, concerning the prevention of child molestation. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Versailles Baptist Family Life Center.

According to Saralee Cumberworth, director of the "Healthy Families" services, Sgt. Hall has spoken throughout the state to alert parents, teachers, and law enforcement of the problem of child molestation.

A 34-year veteran of the Indianapolis Police Department, Hall is the dive-team coordinator, but he admits his passion is in keeping children safe and catching child molesters.

Hall speaks to student groups of any age - preschool through college. After Hall's presentations, teachers follow up in the classroom. Younger students are reminded that if they need to talk, they can always approach a teacher or counselor or even Hall.

Before Hall speaks to children, he has a night meeting for parents to explain his program. Hall makes it clear he will refer to the private parts by their actual names. "He tells it to them straight," said a guidance counselor at Northwood Elementary School.

One thing the children hear during these presentations by Hall is that it is not their fault. He tells adults also that they cannot be afraid to talk about the problem. "Listen to your children," he says, "because even worse than being molested is telling someone and not being believed."

Hall himself suffered molestation at the age of 8 from a relative, but it was not until he was 19 that he had the courage to tell anyone. His father believed him, eventu
ally, but his mother never wanted to talk about it.

As he goes throughout the state speaking on the subject, Hall finds some people, including school administrators, who would rather ignore the subject. "Some don't want me to speak at their school because they think I'll just stir things up."

Cumberworth is hoping to have a large turnout of parents, educators, and people in the community who are interested in confronting the issue of child molestation. "Sgt. Terry Hall has a reputation throughout the state of being able to get his message across in an interesting, yet informative way."

When Hall speaks to groups of children, he uses special dolls that he calls tools to teach children how to protect their bodies. With older students he uses slips of paper on which they can check "Yes" or "No" if they want to talk to someone about themselves or somebody else.

The program is open to the public, and babysitters will be provided. Cumberworth asks that parents who will be bringing young children call 689-6363 and let her know so that proper accommodations can be made.