Schools out; Police see rise in complaints with town’s youth
Published on June 26th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - The dog days of summer have arrived and with it an increase in youth activity throughout the town that has prompted an influx in the number of calls to the local police department.
Within the last week, the Stoneham Police Department has seen a sharp increase in complaints concerning local youths in the community. The complaints range from loud youths in the street to pellet gunshots fired at motor vehicles. The police have also been called upon to break up a fight, disperse large crowds at Redstone Plaza and to disperse a fifteen-car gathering of youths at one location in town.
In a comparison of police logs with the suburban communities of Wilmington and Tewksbury, an unexplainable variance exists in youth disturbance calls to the Stoneham Police. Demographics show that Stoneham is not saturated with more youth’s than their neighboring communities to the north. In fact the contrary is true.
Stoneham has 22.5% of its total population in that demographic, while Tewksbury has 27% and Wilmington 29.4%. The towns of Tewksbury and Wilmington also have similar or relative community resources to those of Stoneham. This past week, Stoneham had more than twice the number of calls concerning youth’s disturbances than both Tewksbury and Wilmington combined, according to their official police logs.
What is the answer?
One local youth thinks that the community resources need to be enhanced and open longer. “The skate park doesn’t allow bikes or roller blades, just skateboards, and they lock the gate in the evening” The young man also pointed out that to take in a movie he must drive to Woburn or farther. “I would also like to have a place to play paintball without getting into trouble or a place to ride BMX bikes.” His thoughts on why young men and women are hanging out in commercial parking lots and at burger joints was simply expressed when he said, “There is nothing else to do in Stoneham.”
The reason for youth disturbances may be more subjective than pragmatic, however, an answer to the summer doldrums may be found in the youths themselves. Perhaps the youth of Stoneham need to broaden their horizons and seek out all that Stoneham has to offer. The staff at the Independent would like to hear from the youths themselves on what is needed to occupy their summer vacation time. Parents and residents alike are also encouraged to opine by sending a letter to the editor at, 377 Main St., Stoneham, MA 02180, or online at www.stonehamonline.com.
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