Responsible Parents To Be Ticketed

CLIFTON — Due to the amount of recent criminal mischief throughout the city, Clifton Police Chief Steve Adcock has announced plans to not only enforce the city curfew ordinance, but to ticket the responsible parent (or adult responsible for the minor)+.

He said that the first time a youth is found to be breaking the curfew ordinance, that youth is given a warning.

"After that, the youth will be given a ticket," added Adcock. "But now, we are also going to start ticketing the parent responsible for the youth."

Adcock noted that in the City of Clifton ordinance (Sec. 30-36 through 30-40) allows for the city to ticket parents who knowingly allow a minor to be in violation of the curfew.

The curfew is for those under 17 years of age. Curfew is midnight, on Friday and Saturday nights, and 11 p.m., on weekdays, said Adcock.

Exemptions to the ordinance include school or church related activities, employment, and emergencies (fire, natural disaster, automobile accident, medical emergency).

CLIFTON — Clifton Police Chief Steve Adcock not only updated the City Council on the department last Monday, but he also was the guest speaker at the Clifton Lions Club on Tuesday, to give the members an update on the departments current status and future plans.

He explained that training has been a priority for the department during the previous month with everything from styles of shooting to sexual predator/registration, and pursuit driving being taught to the officers.

Adcock also noted that Adam Sowder III has been hired by the department to bring the total officers back to five. The five officers include Randy Hill, Leslie Perry, Jeff Schasteen, Darren Glenn, and Sowder.

On a current note, Adcock advised everyone to keep their vehicles locked at all times as there have been a rash of thefts from vehicles. As of Tuesday, the department believes that it has caught the recent perpetrators, however, that does not mean that there aren’t others out there.

Adcock advised the council that there is a need for two new radar units for the cars, and that the department can lease the units on a three-year plan towards the purchase of the units, all within the budget of the department at this time.

He also noted that he is working on two grant applications, one for a new records management system, and the other for approximately 40 wireless cameras that can be put up around the city. He noted that with the small department, this will help the officers better utilize their time and technology.

Adcock said that he has purchased on camera that is portable which he will be using in certain areas that tend to attract criminal activity.

He also announced that the department has been awarded a TacSight SE35 thermal imager through a grant awarded from Homeland Security. He noted that this was one of only 54 grants awarded in the state. He said that the unit will be valuable in locating fugitives or last people at night.

In his report he also noted that the recent "zero tolerance" on local warrants has been productive with numerous warrants served and many more people have come in to clear their warrants. He added that there were two major drug arrests during the month of December, and that they apprehended the two juveniles that have been vandalizing the downtown Main Street Christmas decorations.