> My co-worker let his kids play in the cul-de-sac for an hour while they watched from the house. An anonymous neighbor reported them to police, and a sequence of embarrassing calls at work ensued, statements to police, follow up visits from police, etc.

This story doesn't add up. 1 hour playing in front of their house resulted in a thorough investigation conducted by the police? I'm sorry, but I don't buy it.