Renewal of Curfew Gets Preliminary OK

A divided City Council gave preliminary approval to renewing a controversial daytime curfew this week, despite protests from some parents.

Police Chief Richard M. Tefank said the curfew, which began last December with a one-year deadline, has reduced daytime crimes. Most of the 136 citations issued were in response to calls from Buena Park Mall merchants, he said.

“There was this perspective that officers would go out and aggressively round up students,” Tefank said. “That has not occurred.”

Parents and residents who objected to the curfew said it violated their children’s constitutional rights. “I believe this is impractical, unnecessary and an insult to law-abiding families,” parent Dianne Krylo said. “Please do not lump my children in the same category as juvenile delinquents.”

Two council members, Patsy Marshall and Gerald N. Sigler, voted against the ordinance, saying truancy is a problem to be fought by the schools, not the city. The council, which voted 3 to 2 in favor of the ordinance, will take a final vote on the issue Nov. 17.

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Curfew Cure

Buena Park police say juvenile crime has decreased since the city began a daytime curfew--8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days--last November. Their records show:

Citations issued: 136

Resolved in mediation: 113

Daytime juvenile arrests: Down 8.8%

Daytime property crimes: Down 28.9%

Source: Buena Park Police Department; Researched by LESLEY WRIGHT / For The Times