Henrico eyes tighter event security after recent teen incidents
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Henrico County plans to increase security at public events after several recent incidents involving unsupervised teens, including one that cut short last weekend's Independence Day celebration.
Why it matters: Henrico hopes the new measures will make its events safer, as communities debate how to respond to disruptive teen gatherings.
State of play: Henrico police chief Eric English said this week that the department is working to enhance security protocols for county events in response to "disorderly conduct and unsupervised groups of juveniles" at recent events.
- Without a parent or guardian present, groups of teens are creating "unsafe situations that cannot be ignored," English said.
- The county is finalizing the new protocols, which are expected to require pre-entry weapons screening and clear bags for attendees, Henrico police spokesperson Will McCue tells Axios.
- The restrictions, which don't yet have a start date, are expected to mirror the county's rules for high school football games, McCue says.
Context: Fights broke out at Henrico's July 3 celebration at Dorey Park, which the county ended early after a juvenile was arrested and charged with underage possession of a firearm.
- Henrico reported fights and "disorderly conduct by minors" at the county's Juneteenth event, per the Times-Dispatch.
- English also warned of fights, underage drinking and vandalism in county parks last month, including bathroom sinks and paper towel dispensers ripped from walls.
Zoom out: It's unclear if Henrico will adopt teen-specific curfews or chaperone policies, but both are increasingly being deployed nationwide in response to large teen gatherings that end in property damage and violence, Axios' Josephine Walker reports.
Yes, but: Curfews and chaperone rules that treat teens like a problem punish all young people for the actions of a few, teen advocates say.
- The rules also leave young people without a "third place," which traditionally for teens included malls, movie theaters, theme parks and bowling alleys.
Case in point: In Richmond, teens — and, in some cases, 20-year-olds — can't go to some movie theaters in the evening without a 21-or-older chaperone, including Movieland, CinéBistro Stony Point and Cinema Cafe Chester.
- Similar rules are in place for bowling at River City Roll, Bowlero Richmond and The Park; for indoor golf games at Top Golf, Drive Shack and Hotel Greene; for Kings Dominion theme-park-goers; and for the entirety of Southpark Mall.