Manchester Curfew Discussion Includes Cop 'Resources'

MANCHESTER, CT — Whether or not the concept of a youth curfew in Manchester is revisited next month, it seems political leaders agree on one thing — work with police to combat the car burglars and thieves that prompted the curfew idea in the first place.

The curfew was the topic of the night when the Manchester Board of Directors conducted business on Tuesday, but no formal motion came to the floor to adopt it. Mayor Jay Moran said Wednesday he doubted it would pass, but also said it could pop up on next month's agenda. The curfew discussion was called for by Minority Leader Cheri Eckbreth, who said there has been a 333 percent spike car thefts and burglaries from May into June, highlighted by a recent arrest involving two teens in a stolen car.

"I listened to Manchester citizens who expressed their questions and concerns over the effectiveness of a curfew ordinance and many who offered their personal experiences and made productive suggestions to address at risk youth behavior and community safety," Eckbreth said.

Said Moran, "Motor vehicle thefts are on the rise everywhere, not just Manchester. We need to find resources to assist the police department in addressing this in Manchester. I agree with the Chief that a curfew on youth would not stop this problem from occurring. If they are going to break into cars, they will probably break a curfew."

Eckbreth called for officials to work together.

"Unfortunately, what followed (citizens comments) were unproductive and emotionally charged board member responses to the suggestion of a curfew ordinance that evolved into personal attacks, hysteria and accusations of police misconduct that only served to malign the Manchester Police Department and their ongoing efforts and achievements toward positive community relations," she said. "Board communications and working together in the best interest of our community has reached an all time low to the peril of Manchester’s at-risk youth and community crime prevention."

Moran said officials would continue to have "productive discussions" about police taking on the car burglars.

"We agree we have to take care of the car burglaries," he said. "The majority of our youth are doing good things and do not need a curfew because of the behavior of a few."

Moran said he wold rather focus on police "resources" rather than a curfew that could be ruled illegal.

The discussion in Manchester comes 15 years after a curfew in Vernon was shot down legally. In June 2003, a federal appeals court overturned a Connecticut trial court decision to keep a Vernon curfew in place. It was a case argued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut.

The Vernon ordinance prohibited anyone younger than age of 18 from being outdoors after 11 p.m. on school nights or after midnight on weekend nights, with some exceptions.

Eckbreth said, "As an elected official and policy maker, my role requires that I listen, respect a difference of opinions and try to build consensus. Sometimes it gets lost, but the item on the agenda was a discussion item of a curfew ordinance and community-based interventions. When I weigh Manchester citizens' opinions on supporting a curfew against those who don’t, I can’t dismiss the perceived fear or concern of a police state, even though my experience and our policing policies and practices in place guard against those fears and concerns. So I won’t pursue adoption of the curfew, but will still work toward creating community-based interventions to address the problem of at-risk youth that still exists in Manchester."

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

To sign up for free Manchester news alerts and more, click here.