Brookhaven’s top law enforcement officer is asking parents to curb their children’s playtime in the streets.

Police Chief Kenneth Collins says it’s unsafe for children to play basketball on public roads in the city. He also doesn’t want to see them on four-wheelers on streets or on bicycles without helmets.

He wants parents to move the basketball goals off the streets and into their yards.

“You don’t ever want your kids playing in the streets,” he said.

Collins, who is a father of two, said children and teenagers think they can get out of the way in time if a vehicle approaches while they’re shooting hoops in the street, but that’s not always the case.

The chief said it’s a safety issue that he’s noticed for a while.

“We’ve had some close calls, and complaints from drivers,” he said.

He’d like to see the neighborhood basketball games moved to nearby city parks or into private yards.

“That would help to ensure the safety of the kids in this town,” he said. “Our kids are the future.

He encouraged parents to find a safer place for their children to play.

“As a community we can take care of this together,” he said.

Collins said four-wheelers are not street-legal to drive by children or adults.

“Kids should not be running them because they’re kids,” he said.