COVINGTON TEEN BEATEN, CALLS FOR & AGAINST CURFEW ON RISE

by Michael Monks

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Two students from Holmes walking home from school last week were accosted by a group of eight to teen youths that challenged the pair to a fight. When the boys declined, the larger group pounced on them anyway, severely beating one boy while the other was fortunate enough to flee. The attackers ranged in age from fourteen to nineteen and quick action by the Covington Police (particularly the school resource officer assigned to Holmes) all but one of the suspects is behind bars. The 19-year old adult is in Kenton County Jail, while the juveniles are being held in Campbell County. The attackers are being investigated for potential gang activity (all of them were students at a local alternative school).

Instances of crime involving Covington youth had some community members speaking in favor of the proposed daytime curfew Wednesday night at the police chief community forum. The proposed ordinance is modeled after one in Dallas, Texas and similar to one used in Newport. "It's lowered crime in Newport by eighty percent," said Bill Wells, President of the South Covington Community Action Association. "How many juveniles are up on a murder charge in Newport? And how many here?"

Chief Russo said that Newport's decline in crime could also be attributed to the elimination of a lot of that city's section-8 housing. "And where have they relocated," Russo asked. "Covington. (Daytime curfew) is a regulation that we want to enforce."

It was noted during a city commission meeting that approved postponing the ordinance that the American Civil Liberties Union had contacted City Hall in opposition. But they are not alone. Most of the opposition is coming from home-schoolers. "Right now we're hearing from the home school people but we need to be hearing from those of you in favor," said Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Carran, urging proponents to call and email the city commission.

Russo expressed skepticism that all of these home-school families are genuine. "Homeschool is a strategy used by parents when their kid is about to expelled," Russo charged. "Is the parent monitoring that child or just avoiding truancy cases?"

The curfew ordinance allows police during school hours to stop school-aged children and ask where the students are supposed to be and then take appropriate action, either returning the kids to school or possibly to jail if criminal activity is suspected. "We know we'll have bumps, but something is better than nothing," Russo said. "What worries me is what the community expectation would be. Every time you see a juvenile walking down the street, you're not looking at a criminal."
SEE ALSO: Violent Crime Increase Prompts Rally In Covington