Thinking of skipping school? Youngstown cops will be watching

YOUNGSTOWN — Some kids who skip school occupy their days breaking into houses, selling drugs, stealing cars and shoplifting, police say.

To ensure school attendance and reduce criminal activity, a two-year $230,335 anti-gang initiative grant from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services was awarded to the Youngstown Police Department, said Laura Brown, YPD project analyst.

The program will be evaluated by Youngstown State University and a portion of the grant will be set aside for nonpolice services, she said, adding that details are still being worked out with city schools and juvenile court.

The bulk of the grant, $189,000, will be used to pay police overtime for truancy sweeps during the school year and curfew enforcement over the summer months, police said. Compulsory school hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the city’s curfew is 11 p.m.

The truancy sweeps are expected to start Jan. 17. Officers (six plus one supervisor) will work 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays.

The overtime is available to all officers who sign up but limited to 20 hours per month per officer. The cost per day will depend on an officers’ rank. The grant ends in October 2009.

“Nationwide, studies show that most daylight burglaries are committed by kids who should be in school,” said Lt. Robin Lees, commander of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force. “They also sell drugs and commit petty thefts.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.