Is It That Time Of Year Already?

PRIDE (Prevention Resources & Information on Drug Education) Inc. just sent out the 2011 Metro Area Prom and Graduation schedules to all area law enforcement agencies.  In addition to the dates, times and locations of proms and graduation ceremonies, it also lists the locations of post-prom celebration events.  We cops like to use these things as kind of a roadmap of the stars to figure out when and where we'll concentrate our forces and turn our attention to youth revelers who might take things a bit too far.  The last thing we want to do is ruin someone's special night, but we will if we have to-----because the stakes are too high.  Tragedies surrounding underage drinking still occur far too frequently, even though the word has never gotten out more.  Several years ago we began airing a stark music video created by the band Simple Plan on our local cable access channel (Channel 18 on Cox in Papillion).  Word had it that the band wrote the song after a close friend was killed by a drunk driver.  Although the message was brutally unpleasant, I received more thanks for putting it on than any other thing we've ever done before or since.  So we'll do it again this year, in hopes that at least one kid out there will modify his or her behavior as a result of seeing it.  Kids:  Think about how much of a hassle it would be to work your way through the courts for an underage drinking arrest while you are also trying to get ready for college, military or whatever else you want to do after graduation.  Parents:  Take time to hassle your kids just a little bit by keeping track of what they are doing, who they are doing it with, and where they are doing it.  The old hippie saying used to be never trust anyone over the age of 30.  During this time of year and for this purpose I ask you to flip that one just a bit to never fully trust anyone under the age of 19.  Please be safe and smart because we'll be out there party crashing.