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City Of Orlando Considers Teen Curfew For Parramore Area

Orlando police are working on an ordinance that would lead to a teenage curfew just for the Parramore section of the city. The suggestion came out of a community meeting in Parramore, where the police chief asked residents how the department could better serve them.

Resident said one key to fighting crime is keeping teens off the streets.

Meroy Charles takes pride in her home on Bentley Street, even though it's just a block from one of Orlando's 44 murders. She said teens and others hang out on street corners at all hours. At Wednesday's meeting with the police chief, she spoke up.

"If you run a check and do enough arrests, it will keep a number of others out," Charles said.

Orlando's deputy police chief said at least 70 residents shared Charles' concern.

"I think, certainly, getting the citizens support is the first step. So we can now go to city officials and say we have an overwhelming number of citizens who live in Parramore who support a curfew," said Deputy Chief Val Demings, Orlando Police Department.

The police attorney is drafting the ordinance, modeling it after Jacksonville. There, it's a city-wide curfew. The Orlando curfew would start with teens in Parramore, then possibly expand.

"We need to be policed well, but we do not have to give up our civil rights. I will never agree to just giving a curfew for kids in Parramore," said city commissioner Daisy Lynum.

Lynum said only a small percentage of teens get into trouble, so the city shouldn't punish everyone.

"We ought to target the people with the issues and do good policing. Arresting everybody, stopping everybody, no, that is not the answer," she said.

But police said more and more teens are involved in violent crimes. If neighbors like Charles want to clean up their streets, police are all for it.

There are no specific days or hours for the proposed curfew, yet. It would apply to kids under 18. The proposal will eventually be sent to city hall and commissioners would have to approve it to make it law.
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