By order of Sheriff Darren Weekly, Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open burning, the use of fireworks, portable fireplaces/fire pits and campfires in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
Parents, caregivers and child safety experts across Douglas County gathered Wednesday, March 25, for a critical conversation about protecting children in an increasingly complex digital world
Posted on March 27, 2026 2026Live Town HallsNews and EventsPublic HealthPublic Safety
During the “Courageous Conversations: Our Children and the Internet” live town hall—hosted by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners—local law enforcement, educators, prosecutors and nonprofit leaders shared what they are seeing on the front lines, and what families can do about it. One of the strongest themes of the evening was that protecting children online requires a shared effort between parents, schools, law enforcement and the broader community.
Panelists stressed that many cases begin with small, seemingly harmless interactions online, but can escalate quickly without awareness and intervention. At the same time, they reassured families that resources, support systems and trained professionals are in place across Douglas County to respond when needed.
Watch the full recording on our YouTube channel.
Throughout the conversation, panelists returned to a consistent message: prevention starts at home.
“Be inside your kids’ phones, tablets, computers, be very involved in any electronic device and know what they’re doing online,” advised Detective Kate Morrissey of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The panelists advised parents to use these suggestions to help their children stay safe and develop healthy habits with their technology:
Experts emphasized that children often don’t report problems because they fear punishment. Kids are far more likely to seek help when they know they won’t be met with anger or shame. To help build trust, parents should:
“The number one thing that I would say is be curious. The first thing kids think if they go to a parent and they’re questioning and anxious about something is that they’re going to get their technology taken away. So, we as parents and as staff need to be curious and ask more questions,” advised Dr. Kelli Smith, Director of Health, Wellness and Prevention at Douglas County School District.
Simple but powerful rules can help prevent many risks:
“The other big thing I would have parents preach to your kids is don’t add strangers on social media. The vast majority of my cases that involve internet luring are when strangers add children on Snapchat or Facebook or any social media platform. So, encourage your kids to only add people they know,” advised Abby Hegarty, Senior Deputy District Attorney.
Panelists highlighted early indicators of trouble that may signal unhealthy relationships with technology or risky digital behavior.
The March 25 live town hall was the first in a new “Courageous Conversations” series aimed at tackling complex issues facing the community. For families, the takeaway was clear: while the online world presents real risks, there are also clear, practical steps—and strong local resources—that can help keep children safe.
Join us on Wednesday, May 20, for our next “Courageous Conversation” live town hall about preparing your home and family for wildfires, the number 1 natural threat in Douglas County.
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