The Fight Against Crime: Notes From the Front : When Kites, Not Bullets, Are Flying

A very serious-looking news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the newspaper the other day, the kind that at first glance looks sort of like it was written by Sheriff Sherman Block himself.

Sometimes such missives detail the capture of a violent criminal with a long rap sheet, or warn the public about an armed prison escapee. Sometimes these outlaws are, technically at least, children.

But not this time. This time, the topic was “Kite-Flying Safety Tips”--and was apparently aimed at children who are not yet hardened hoods on the lam.

This was the department’s (I suspect Block himself wasn’t personally involved) springtime warning against killer kites.

“Your kite should be constructed only with dry string, wood, paper or cloth,” read the warning under a six-pointed star letterhead. “Never use wire or other metallic material which are good conductors of electricity and can cause serious injury or death.

“Avoid flying your kite in the rain to prevent possible electrocution by lightning. Kites should be flown in open areas like a park to avoid obstacles such as power lines, trees, tall buildings, rooftop antennas, and other hazards.”

In a way, this was sweet. A little anachronistic maybe, but sweet, harking back to a gentler time when children actually had a greater chance of being injured flying a kite in the park than they had of being riddled by bullets from the 9-millimeter that kid in the lunchroom packed in with his Snapple.

No more.

In the San Fernando Valley, Michael Ensley was shot and killed at Reseda High in February, 1993, the same day Rocio Delgado was fatally shot while walking home from Cleveland High School. In December, Gabriel Gettleson, 17, was shot and wounded at Chatsworth High after he refused to give up his backpack.

Los Angeles Unified School District police recovered 127 guns in 1993 and 168 the year before.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Britta Tubbs said the notice was a routine annual reminder--not a response to an outbreak of kite catastrophes.

“It’s getting to be the spring and summer when more kids are out flying kites and we want everyone to be safe,” she said.

The fax does offer sound advice.

“Do not hold onto the string or attempt to climb a power pole to retrieve a kite. If your kite does get tangled on power lines, call your local power company for assistance.”

And though kite-flying would appear to be the epitome of good clean fun, there are nonetheless a few dangerous mischief-makers out there, says the sheriff.

“The Federal Aviation Administration has set a 150-foot height restriction for kite flying and prohibits their flying within five miles of an airport,” the memo states. “However, helicopter pilots have reported seeing kites flying well above the height restriction. This not only poses a hazard for the pilots and their aircraft, but to the people on the ground.”

So if little Johnny and Suzie run in for dinner, chattering excitedly how they got the kite “way up so high we couldn’t see it,” this is not cute. This is setting us up for a home-grown Lockerbie.

And the sheriff added: “Children should avoid flying their kites in the middle of the street. Many children are seriously injured or killed by motorists while playing in the street. Additionally, young children should always be closely supervised when flying kites.”

But alas, when we tried to reach Sheriff Block, he wasn’t available. We left word that our call was about the kite threat, hoping he would understand the urgency. He never called back. Probably too busy dealing with gun-toting teens who might have never seen a kite, much less flown one. Who knows? Maybe there’s a connection.

“By using a little common sense and following a few simple precautions, your kite flying adventures can be safe and filled with many enjoyable memories,” Block concluded.

Better memories than ducking the incoming rounds in math class, to be sure.