La Ronge imposes youth curfew
The Town of La Ronge will start enforcing an overnight youth curfew in response to a recent spate of break-ins, thefts, smashed windows and other vandalism.
Mayor Thomas Sierzycki and the six-member town council decided Wednesday to ask the RCMP to resume enforcing the 2005 bylaw, which imposes an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew upon anyone under 18.
Youth on the street without their parents or guardians after 11 p.m. will be taken home and their parents or guardians will be issued $50 tickets. A second occurrence within 30 days will attract a $100 fine, Sierzycki said.
The bylaw was enacted 10 years ago under similar circumstances and has never been formally suspended, but police enforcement fell off after a year or two, he said. There has been no decision yet on how long the curfew will be enforced this time, he said.
The council also established a task force to consider revisions to the bylaw, oversee community policing — including possible citizen patrols — consider best practices from other communities and make recommendations for security policies for the town, he said.
The task force will include two councillors and representatives of the RCMP, the Chamber of Commerce and one concerned resident representative.
The measures are “strictly municipal, town driven,” and do not include the adjacent Lac La Ronge First Nation or the village of Air Ronge, Sierzycki said. Neighbouring communities are welcome to partner with the town, he said.
A public meeting will be held after the task force is established.
In a news release this week, La Ronge RCMP said a “significant amount of stolen property,” including firearms, ammunition, cash, electronics and bicycles, was found inside three homes that were searched on the Lac La Ronge First Nation. Police believe the same people are responsible for all the break-ins.
La Ronge RCMP said Wednesday they had arrested three boys, aged 13, 15 and 16, in connection with break-ins in the town on the weekend of Nov. 13. RCMP have said they suspect a fourth youth was involved.
The youths were scheduled to appear in provincial court Thursday.