Polkton Police Department

PO Box 99 #35 West Polk St.

Polkton, NC 28135

September 9, 2019

To: News Media Outlets

From: Chief Matthew L. Norris
Re: Recent Facebook Post

Please allow this letter serve as a response to the allegations that have been made about the
Polkton Police Department and/or myself, Chief Norris, advocating physical violence against
child/children. Let me first say that the choice of picture that I used in this post was in poor taste and
was used only to catch attention. The Polkton Police Department does not in any way promote or allow
children to be victims of physical abuse.

This post was only to educate people on the legalities of disciplining their children. We as Police
Officers across this country are called upon daily to respond to calls where children have been or are
currently being unruly and/or undisciplined. It is my opinion, and my opinion only, that some parents
have allowed their children to become undisciplined for fear of having the Department of Social Services
(DSS) called on them.

Corporal Punishment (spanking, paddling, etc.) was taken out of schools years ago, and rightfully
so, because disciplining a child is a parents job and no one else’s. The statement of parents needing to set
boundaries and “take control back of your family” as the news media has said out of context was simply
meant that we as parents and not the police, DSS, or any other judicial system should be interfering into
the discipline of a child. All children regardless of age need boundaries so that they know exactly what is
acceptable to the parents and to the community at large. Unless that discipline constitutes assault, abuse,
etc. In fact, we as parents know that there are many other ways to discipline children without spanking,
paddling, etc.

1
 My statement about there being a line between discipline and abuse is very true. That statement
can mean either physical, psychological, sexual, verbal, emotional, cultural or a combination of them all.
There is a fine line when that is crossed when it goes from discipline to abuse, whether physical or not,
it’s still a type of abuse.

My only intention of this post was to bring awareness to parents that it is o.k. to be a parent and
discipline a child without the fear of being arrested or having the Department of Social Services called
into investigate them.

I, Chief Norris, take full responsibility for the post. It is based upon my opinion, knowledge of
current laws, and experience in being involved with investigating cases of abuse in the past, whether it
was of a child, an adult (Domestic Violence), or elderly person (elderly abuse). I am fully aware that my
opinion about this matter shouldn’t have been posted on a publicly monitored page. This is why that I
am offering my deepest apologies for anyone that I may have offended. I apologize for the use of my
opinion and the choice of photo that I used that suggested that the Polkton Police Department and I
advocate child abuse or the use of corporal punishment. Although, it is a little too late to correct my
error, the Facebook post has been deleted and also the Polkton Police Department Facebook page. I in
no way want the public to think that the Polkton Police Department, myself or any officers associated
with me advocate violence in any form.

I will make no further statement about this matter. Thank you

M.L. Norris
Chief of Police