Police to meet with youth football officials on dealing with angry parents

Wichita police have invited team directors and coaches from the Greater Wichita Junior Football League to a presentation Wednesday about how to deal with angry parents and other conflicts that might occur during youth sports events.

The meeting was put together in response to an incident at a youth football practice earlier this month in which a group of men beat a coach, before the coach’s wife pulled out a gun and fired it in the air to scare the men away.

The mother of a former player had earlier confronted the coach over her son not being allowed to play in the season opener for the team.

“The department wants to get out there” and head off problems before they occur, said police Lt. James Espinoza. Police also want to know “what we can do to help.”

Officer Larry Carlson was chosen to make the presentation because of his background in the league.

“He’s coached for years,” Espinoza said.

Directors and coaches of all 16 teams in the league have been invited to the presentation, which is at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers.

Parents were not invited, but “we’re not going to prevent anybody from coming,” Espinoza said.

This story was originally published September 23, 2014 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Police to meet with youth football officials on dealing with angry parents."