Charleston, SC - Worried parents gathered Wednesday night at the Freddie Whaley Community Center. At issue was how to better protect kids using the city pool, that is until the meeting took a turn.

Some back and forth about kids not being able to use the city pool when swim teams are practicing. A few people upset over this issue spoke their minds.

Waiting for swim practice to start early Saturday morning, 16-year-old Sarah Thibaudeau watched three men approach her car, break the window with a gun, and steal her belongings. Wednesday night, Sarah and her parents joined dozens, looking to address the problem.

“It's good everybody wants to try and make it better and it shows how important it is to do something about it, everybody cares,” said Sarah Thibaudeau.

The Martin Luther King pool located on Jackson Street is a place some parents say is a high crime area. Police offered to step up patrols, and Bob Thibaudeau says its time something is done.

“I worry about her today going down there, I worry about going down there myself, I think in numbers we can make it a safer place, safer neighborhood,” said Bob Thibaudeau.

The meeting took on a different tone, after some took issue with the fact, when the swim team is practicing kids from the Rosemont community are left on the outside looking in.

"I'm speaking on behalf of my kids,” said Edward Jones

One man, escorted out by Chief Greg Mullen. Eventually cooler heads prevailed, and the group decided the best way to solve concerns with the pool and safety must be done together, regardless of where you live.

Police will be checking the lighting in the pool parking lot, and improving landscaping to make the area more visible.

There was talk this summer of adding another community pool, possibly at Patriots Point. Parents tonight believe that idea would help make the city pool more accessible to all kids.