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SYRACUSE -- Parents in Syracuse met Tuesday night with police to talk about rising crime in their city and how to keep kids out of trouble. Front and center among their concerns: drugs, alcohol abuse and gangs.
The Parent Awareness Night comes on the heels of a report from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification that finds crime in Syracuse has skyrocketed along with the population.
Walking into the meeting at Syracuse High School, R.J. Mendenhall has one thing on his mind: learn as much as possible about his child's world.
"I think parents, in general, really have a clue of what's going on in and around them," Mendenhall said.
In the past decade, Syracuse's population has gone from 8,000 to 24,000, and crime has risen as well--up 40 percent. Police say financial and property crime are among the biggest problems.
Driving around late at night, I've had the opportunity to see garages open, bikes left out; just things that are, you know, were inviting people take," said Syracuse police Lt. Tracy Jensen.
In Tuesday night's meeting, parents learned about the signs their kids could be involved in crime as well as drugs, alcohol or gangs.
"I'm definitely worried for my kids, as well as other kids in our church and in our community," Mendenhall said.
In Salt Lake County, 3rd District Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Valdez is planning similar meetings in two west-side schools. The meetings are aimed at parents of 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds.
"It's before kids join gangs, I want to talk to parents about what I see in my court. I want to talk to parents about the socialization process that kids go through during that age group," Valdez said.
He says parent involvement is key in those years, as kids make friends and identities, and fall into peer groups.
I walk out my front door, and my neighbors to the left have children who are Eagle Scouts. My neighbors to the right have children who are gangsters. And there's a reason for that: The parents who have the Eagle Scouts have been involved in their children's lives," Valdez said.
Valdez's classes will be held in late September and early October. In Syracuse, they plan to make the Parent Awareness Night at least an annual event, if not every six months.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
