Interim Deputy Chief Gaylor and the Rockland Police Department provided an update of their most recent dealings with a certain group of juveniles. According to Police, the juveniles know that the courts wont actually punish them, so they laugh and mock the officers who attempt to maintain order.

The Police Department’s update:

On 2/10/2023, at approximately 9:30 PM, Rockland Police Officers on patrol observed several known juveniles entering Hannaford, one of whom had been trespassed from the store and charged with stealing alcohol less than three weeks prior. Officers turned the juveniles away and any further thefts were thwarted.

During the incident the juveniles were yelling vulgarities, giving the middle finger and threatening to fight officers and Hannaford staff. Criminal charges are pending and requests for arrest warrants are being sought.

On 2/14/2023, at approximately 4:30 PM, Rockland officers were called to the Rockland Recreation Center on Limerock Street for a report of several juveniles on the property being disorderly. At least one of the juveniles (as young as 13-years-old) had been issued a prior trespass warning for the property.

Upon the officer’s arrival, they found a group of approximately 8 juveniles walking away from the Recreation Center toward the Rockland Public Library. During this time, complaints from the Rockland Public Library regarding the juveniles were also being reported.

Rockland Police attempted to engage with the juveniles, who in turn, walked away yelling vulgarities at officers and onlookers, including homophobic and racist speech. During this time, there were young children and families in the area.

Given the lack of enforcement options provided by the court and juvenile probation, Rockland Police monitored the juveniles but did not engage in what would have resulted in a physical altercation with the juveniles being immediately released.

The group continued walking around town, being disorderly, yelling and using vulgarities. Rockland Police were able to separate several of the juveniles, issuing one a criminal summons. The juvenile, who has several pending charges, joked about an upcoming court date, mocking the officers. When issued a criminal summons, the juvenile tore it up in front of officers and walked away, while making it clear he did not have any concern for his actions or the juvenile court system.

Rockland Police are seeking arrest warrants for several of the juveniles involved in the incident and have been in contact with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office regarding the incident and lack of court action. Rockland Police Department have been in contact with parents and guardians, who report at least one of the children has not been home in weeks and they are unable to control their child, pleading for the juvenile court system to help.

On 02/16/2023, Rockland Police responded to several reports of vandalism in town. The vandalism involved swastikas, homophobic and racial slurs having been spray-painted on public, private and RSU-13 property. Several vehicles parked just off Main Street were spray-painted as well. Rockland Police identified several juveniles involved, including at least one as young as 11-years-old. Criminal charges will be forthcoming.

In the past two years, Rockland Police have issued over 75 juvenile criminal and civil charges; with the majority (over 40) of those in the last six months alone. These charges have consisted of thefts, alcohol violations, curfew violations, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, drug trafficking, assault, assault on officers and sexual assaults on other minors. A small number of juveniles account for almost all of the criminal charges, with little to no progress having been accomplished by the court system or while on juvenile probation.

One juvenile commented to an officer recently that he just turned seventeen and said, “so a year from now, you can take me straight to jail.” The officer did his best to explain that was not our goal and it should not be his either.

“Our local legislative delegates are involved and trying to help us, but with limited enforcement options the court system and legislature is simply acting like we don’t have a solution and are tying our hands. The system is patting itself on the back for keeping juveniles out of secure juvenile facilities, while turning a blind eye to the fact that by doing so, they are not only ignoring public safety and the quality of life of our citizens but also doing nothing to help these juveniles. We are not looking to simply lock these youths up but rather get them help to try to correct their behavior and heal the trauma that got them to this point. Long Creek Youth Development Center in Portland is the only state funded facility that is currently equipped to do this. For the majority of youth, informal injunction or simply appearing in court is enough, but we cannot simply ignore the fact that for others, it is not. The juvenile system is literally kicking the problem down the road until they age out of the juvenile system and then we wonder why they end up in jail at 18; never trying anything but a stern warning to correct their behavior before then.” - Interim Deputy Chief Gaylor