Detroit — City officials are seeking to temporarily expand the city’s curfew for minors during the city’s popular fireworks display next month.
The temporary curfew, which has been imposed before for Detroit’s annual fireworks show, comes as city officials and police have been struggling with chaotic teen “takeovers” downtown. The proposed curfew would start at 8 p.m. on June 22 for minors under the age of 18 and end at 6 a.m. the next day, according to a copy of the proposed change included in Tuesday’s agenda for Detroit City Council.
Detroit normally has a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for juveniles 15 years and under, and from 11 p.m. to 6 p.m. for those aged 16 and 17.
Teen “takeovers,” which have become an issue not just in Detroit but in other cities, are spontaneous gatherings of teenagers, often driven by social media. So far this year, teen takeovers in Detroit have resulted in hundreds of juveniles gathering downtown and elsewhere, leading to vandalism, fights and one nonfatal shooting.
A May 17 gathering downtown resulted in the shooting of 14-year-old Tavuan Clark. A 16-year-old Detroiter has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon in connection with the shooting. That weekend, the city detained over 107 juveniles for curfew violations, mainly stemming from large gatherings downtown and the Palmer Park neighborhood on the north side, Detroit Police officials said.
Preliminary numbers for the Memorial Day weekend show a much lower number of curfew violations. From Friday through Monday, the police department reported 12 curfew violations, officials said Tuesday. Police have vowed to step up curfew enforcement in the wake of the shooting.
The temporary fireworks curfew proposal was introduced Tuesday to the City Council, whose members must approve it in the coming weeks for it to take effect for this month’s fireworks show.
Council member Denzel McCampbell said the city needs to have a “wider conversation” about “where do Detroit youth go” for recreation.
“The criminalization and over-policing of our youth sends a message to them that we don’t actually want them to be thriving, safe, and have fun in the city,” he said.
McCampbell added he appreciates the efforts of Mayor Mary Sheffield for “being forthcoming and listening to young people.”
Last month, Sheffield and Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison introduced a six-point plan to address the issue as well as rising complaints about drag racing. The strategy focuses on neighborhood safety, conflict resolution and youth engagement.
The 68th annual Ford Fireworks is scheduled for June 22. The display, which draws thousands downtown every year, is expected to begin around 10 p.m.
Last year, two people were wounded by gunfire during the fireworks display.
laguilar@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit seeks to expand hours of teen curfew during annual fireworks
Reporting by Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
