Last Updated on March 26, 2020 – 8:57 AM CDT
UPDATED: 3/26/2020
The Dumas Police Department (DPD) said Tuesday that city and county government is looking into implementing a stricter curfew of juveniles and other citizens after an unidentified park was recently graffitied. Apparently by local youth with too much spare time on their hands.
McDade Park has seen more activity recently with spring break being extended another week for Dumas students and the recent spring weather conditions.
A Moore County Journal reader submitted a question during Monday’s COVID-19 emergency press conference asking about the DPD response to large crowds of teenagers gathering in McDade Park and drinking. Dumas Police Chief Marvin Trejo asked anyone who sees this activity to report it by calling dispatch at 806-935-2151.
Moore County has been under a local disaster declaration since Friday, March 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration has restricted social gathers to less than 10 people to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. And, Dumas Schools have extended spring break for an extra week while teachers and staff work to prepare updated course work for students which will be completed at home for the remainder of the school year. These events appear to have spurred more young people to visit the parks during late hours.
The Dumas Police Department made a plea to parents asking that they “be more vigilant in assuring that they [juveniles] are utilizing this energy in a constructive manner, so that the whole community may continue to enjoy our wonderful local parks.”
UPDATE: March 26, 2020
Two days after this article first published discussion on social media had spread and comments were mostly in favor of a curfew. Some comments claimed that problems in the parks had existed before the COVID-19 pandemic and some downplayed the seriousness of the situation.
Less than a week into a month-long shutdown and tensions are beginning to appear in our parks. The only place where people can really get out and escape the isolation of home and work.
Here are a few comments on the topic which were posted in a public Facebook group.
