Utah County Sheriff David Bateman talked with Crime Specialist Karen Scullin about the arrest of his daughter for possession of methamphetamine. One reason he agreed to the interview was to help other parents. Here are some excerpts from that interview.

Surprised by the arrest?

Of course I was surprised. I can't honestly say that I didn't expect something like that to happen. I'd known for some time that she's had a problem.

She's struggled with it, she's successfully gone off methamphetamine on other occasions. But it seems that she travels in the same circles, and eventually goes back to the same people that are involved in the trafficking and becomes.. not dependable. She doesn't do what she says. So from that perspective, although it was not a total surprise, it was a shock to myself and to her mother.

See changes in her right away?

As I look back on it now, yes. But at the time-- I'm just like any other parent. Even though I'm sheriff of the county and I've been in law enforcement for 20-some-odd years, it's a pretty tough thing to recognize that your kid has that problem. I think that I went into a state of denial and refused to believe that my kid could be involved in something like that. That's something that happens to other people's-- it particularly wouldn't happen to me.

But I'm here to tell you that it can and it will, and I guess we as parents have got to accept that and realize that many times there are things we can do about it, but a lot of times, it's not going to make any difference. They've got their own mind, they make their own decisions, and no matter what you do, they're going to do their own thing until they are ready to set it aside and make a change in lifestyle.

Other two kids

So I find myself second-guessing my skills as a parent, particularly now. If it wasn't for the other two kids, probably, it would have a more pronounced impact on me personally than it has. But I've got two other kids who don't have any problems at all...

Signs of trouble

Her irresponsibility primarily. A reluctance to spend any time at home or with the family. Disinterested in those kinds of activities. Forget to get Christmas presents, buy a birthday present for one of the nephews or nieces, forget to go to a birthday party when she'd been invited. Our family is not like that. We're pretty close knit.. do a lot of things together. She's isolating herself over here from the rest of us, and there's got to be a reason for it.

Early on, even though you see a marked difference in her personal appearance and hygiene-- instead of shopping at Nordstroms or Dillards or somewhere, pleased as punch to go to a thrift store to buy her clothing. She looked nice, but that's a dramatic change as far as what she valued. Just little things like that you notice...

Had no recent contact

The way I feel is that before she turns around or makes a change in her lifestyle, that's a decision she's got to make. I've tried for 29 years to teach her what's right from wrong, and expect her to make the appropriate and right decisions a heck of a lot more often than she makes the wrong ones.

So in terms of being the loving father, and rushing out to the jail and saying, 'Gee, Paula, you got arrested, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?' I'm not that kind of a person or that kind of a dad.

Of course we love her and we'll support her. But as far as I'm concerned, this may be selfish on my part, but she's got to initiate the contact. And then I think that there is an opening created for some lifestyle changes to take place...

I feel sorry for her.

Are you angry at her?

Sure, but I still feel sorry for her. I wish things were different. She's going to be on the front page of the newspaper, she's going to be on television, and that wouldn't happen if it wasn't for me (my public position). And I feel guilty in that respect.

Will this be a catalyst?

I hope so. I hope so. It's been my experience with these kids who get hooked on drugs, they've got to get bottomed out at some point before they decide to make a change and start back towards some semblance of normality and I'm hoping this will be the catalyst that forces her to make this change. It's obvious that my wife and I haven't been able to provide the motivation... but maybe this will do the trick. I hope so.

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