The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office is partnering with various organizations in Project Safe Celebrate.
This project is a joint effort to encourage high school students to celebrate safely during the prom and graduation season. Proms start this weekend at some Wyandotte County high schools.
Unfortunately, risky behavior has become an integral part of some teenagers’ prom and graduation celebrations, according to local officials.
Each spring District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman prosecutes teens who commit crimes such as: minor in possession of alcohol, driving under the influence, open container violations, and criminal damage to property.
“Even worse, we know that the use of alcohol heightens the chance of sexual assault. In fact, approximately half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim or both,” Gorman said.
“This is such an important season for our youth and we want them to know that we value them and we take these matters seriously,” Gorman said. Gorman believes that educating and protecting the youth of Wyandotte County is a community effort. Here are just a few of the ways his office is uniting with other groups to reach as many people as they can, in as many different ways as they can:
– The District Attorney’s Office is increasing its presence on Facebook and Twitter and will link all high schools and partnering organizations together through #safecelebrate.
– The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department will perform “saturation patrols” on the prom nights of all Wyandotte County high schools. Representatives from the District Attorney’s Office will ride with officers to assist law enforcement with any needs that may arise, and to hold “tweet-alongs” under the Twitter handle @WYCODAoffice.
– The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Police Department and the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department are teaming up to identify and seek out parties where drugs and alcohol may be present.
– Liquor and cereal malt beverage retailers across Wyandotte County will be especially mindful of attempts to purchase alcohol by teens or by others on their behalf and will refuse to sell to these people.
– Hotel managers have been informed of the prom dates for Wyandotte County high schools and will report all unsupervised prom activities to the police.
– The Kansas Department of Transportation has funded the creation of several posters to be displayed in Wyandotte County high schools.
Gorman has designated Candace Golubski as project manager for Project Safe Celebrate, as this is a large undertaking.
“We have a number of organizations involved in the project. A lot of work has gone into coordinating all of the events and activities associated with Project Safe Celebrate,” Golubski said. “Our hope is that next year and the years to come, the project will continue to expand, possibly even into the surrounding counties. We’ve got big ideas, and the more support we have, the more we can do for the students.”
For more information regarding Project Safe Celebrate, visit: www.facebook.com/projectsafecelebrate.