Randolph Police Aim To Keep Graduates Safe

Randolph Police Aim To Keep Graduates Safe By Sandy Vondrasek

Area high school seniors, in the final stretch of their school days, are eager for the next new thing—whatever that may be—as they fan out after graduation ceremonies next month.

But in order to make it to the next stage, they have to survive the next few weeks. Statistically, the next two or three weeks, with prom night, graduation ceremonies, and big parties, are an especially dangerous times for young people.

This year, seniors in the Randolph area—and their parents—will have some extra incentives to stay safe, and to steer away from drink, drugs, and other risky behavior on prom night and graduation night.

First thing to know: Randolph police plan to conduct extra patrols those two nights, RPD Chief Jim Krakowiecki said this week.

"We will be looking for drinking parties, we will be looking for teens drinking—and my hope is that we don’t come across any," the chief said.

"Parents should remind themselves," Krakowiecki added, "that they can’t be allowing their children or other people’s children to be drinking. Even if it is in their homes, it is still a violation of state law."

On the carrot side, the Prevention Partnership of Braintree, Brookfield and Randolph has organized a drawing—with hundreds of dollars worth of prizes donated by area businesses—for students who sign a pledge not to use drugs or alcohol during those nights.

According to Prevention Partnership Director Andre Souligny, pledge forms have been sent home to RUHS seniors and their families. Those who sign and return the pledges to RUHS before May 31 will be eligible for two drawings, one after prom night, May 31, and the other after graduation night, June 13. Extra pledge forms are available at RUHS.

According to Souligny, this is the first time that the Partnership has organized an incentive drawing. Chief Krakowiecki, who attends monthly Partnership meetings, volunteered to solicit local businesses for donations. The dozen or so business who participated, he said, donated savings bonds and gift certificates, with the value ranging from $25-50.

Both seniors and their parents must sign the pledge, which reads: "We are committed to celebrating on prom and graduation nights without the use of alcohol or drugs. We will not ride with anyone who has been drinking or using drugs."

Souligny also encouraged parents to talk with their children about their prom and graduation night plans.

"Ask these questions before you let your teenagers go out: Where exactly will you be? What is the phone number? What is the name and phone number of the adult or parent who will be with you? Who else will be there? What will you be doing? When will you be home?"

Acknowledging that is was hard for him to make the following suggestion, Chief K added, "Hopefully, if a teen makes the wrong decision and does drink, he or she will be smart enough to have someone as a designated driver—but they shouldn’t be drinking at all."

"Too many kids are dying on the roads," the chief concluded. "Some parents think it’s okay to serve alcohol at their house: It’s not."

The chief noted that adults convicted of enabling consumption by minors face possible penalties of two years in prison and a $2000 fine.

Adults who furnish alcohol to a minor, or provide them with a place to drink, can be charged with a felony—up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine—if that minor causes death or serious bodily injury while operating a motor vehicle.

And, if some sort of tragedy does occur, those who provided alcohol may find themselves civilly liable in a lawsuit, the chief noted.