With fall break looming and classrooms set to temporarily empty, several East Valley police departments are ramping up patrols with a keen focus on the safety of the young ones who will flood the streets in their time away from school. Per a recent initiative announced by the Gilbert Police Department, in partnership with Mesa Police and Queen Creek Police, there will be heightened attention on curbing underage drinking, curfew violations, and dispersing unruly gatherings—a timely intervention given the recent spate of juvenile disturbances, as reported by ABC15.
Empathizing with local concerns, Gilbert PD's Officer Levi Leyba conveyed the departments' strategy of community engagement and education in a statement obtained by ABC15. “We’re going to use the same approach each weekend because we're finding that it's working. Especially educating the community,” said Officer Leyba. While these efforts carry a reactive tint, sparked by incidents like the tragic demise of 16-year-old Preston Lord at a Halloween party last year, the guiding principle remains unaltered: prevention and partnership with the community for a safer fall break.
Katey McPherson, a Queen Creek mom of four and an advocate for community engagement, voiced her approval of the departments uniting for the cause. McPherson told ABC15, “I think it's a great preventative and proactive measure,” emphasizing the need for leadership to communicate intolerance towards any infractions involving the youth. This sentiment echoes the broader goal of the patrols to ensure teens enjoy their break without tipping over the thin line into jeopardy.
As part of the proactive measures, Gilbert PD detailed their curfew ordinance for minors, clarifying that these rules remain steadfast. An underage person of 16 years and older cannot legally loiter in town between the midnight hour and the break of 5 a.m., while those under 16 face even earlier restrictions. Further, the onus does not lay upon the minors alone. According to the ordinance outlined on the Gilbert town's official website, parents or guardians can be held accountable for any curfew violations, an additional measure to ensure responsible adult oversight.
Amidst these preventive steps, the Gilbert PD has also issued a stark reminder pertaining to the uses of electric vehicles and motor-driven cycles, establishing clear-cut guidelines for their safe operation, further reinforcing an unwavering commitment to public safety. This comes alongside safety reminders for parents to remain connected with their teenagers and encourage prompt reporting of any suspicious activity or violence directly to the police, thereby painting a picture of shared responsibility between law enforcement and the very fabric of the community.
