Leave my Kid Alone. Seriously.

I've never been a fan of bullys.  I mean, who is? Unless you are one, and then you like it because you usually get your way. They exist everywhere, even as adults. Interesting phenomenon.

So we've got this playground that is literally kitty-corner from our cul-de-sac, and it's a great playground. Wyatt loves going there to ride his bike and play with his little friends Luke and Randy, who live nearby.  But then there's this other kid, who shall herein be referred to as BULLY.  BULLY is 4 years old.  Twice as old as Wyatt, and old enough to be wise to the world, in my opinion.

At first BULLY just displayed odd behaviors, like trying to ram his bike into the other kids or getting in their face constantly.  But then a week or two ago, BULLY crossed the line.  Wyatt and Randy were playing in Randy's little plastic playhouse (their yard backs to the playground).  I was talking to Randy's mom (Jennifer) and BULLY's dad.  Jenn and I were facing the kids, actually paying attention and watching them, unlike BULLY's dad.

So I see BULLY ride his bike over to the playhouse, and Wyatt opens the door to let him come in.  And then BAM!  BULLY rears his hand back and b-slaps Wyatt in the face!

Umm... WTH?!?!  I immediately tell BULLY's dad that BULLY hit Wyatt and walk over to Wyatt, who is hysterical and looks like someone has just taken his blankey and set it on fire in front of him.  He is practically hyperventilating he is so worked up!  I calm Wyatt down and then am completely dumbfounded.

BULLY has ridden off on his bicycle and BULLY's dad (a seemingly otherwise normal individual) has started a new conversation with another parent. Um.... hello!?!  Your kid just b-slapped my kid!  Are you not going to even address it?!?

So I walk over to BULLY and tell him to apologize to Wyatt and that it is not nice to hit. BULLY stares at me blankly.  Dad sees me and tells me, "BULLY wasn't even over there, he was over here riding his bike."

What?!? Um, no, actually, he wasn't. I show him the HAND PRINT that is now across Wyatt's face, and Jenn says, "No, BULLY was over there, I saw him too." Dad says to Bully, "BULLY, did you hit Wyatt?"

BULLY starts to shake his head no, and I give him the absolute meanest MOM LOOK I could muster up.  BULLY stops and finally says "Yes."

Then, the icing on the cake.  Dad says, "Bully, don't do that. We don't do that." End of story.  No apology. No nothing. Just, "Go ride your bike now."

EXCUSE ME?!?  I was livid.  I'm sorry, but this was not a "hit."  This was a full-blown slap across the face like you see on daytime TV soaps.  And the kid is FOUR YEARS OLD - old enough to know better.  If that were my kid, there would be an immediate correction, an apology, and we would be going home immediately, where he would sit in time out for a very long time.  Then there would be home-made cookies delivered to their door with an apology note, since I would be absolutely mortified!

If Dad wasn't going to address it, I was. I made BULLY apologize. And then I told Wyatt (in front of Dad and Bully) that hitting was not nice and that BULLY should not do that. Dad looked at me like I was crazy.

Fast forward to yesterday, when BULLY kicked another 2-year old in the shin and shoved a 4-year old so hard it made her cry.  Again, Dad failed to address the situation until brought to his attention, and then just yelled across the playground, "BULLY, knock it off. Leave them alone."  Umm... okay....

Clearly there are many problems here.  But I just don't get it. I actually like Dad under normal circumstances, so I am totally confused.  So my question, friends, is how to address this problem tactfully with Dad?  I can't avoid the park when BULLY is there, because I can't see it from my house until we are already at the park. Advice please!