During Simchat Torah some teens go too far

During Simchat Torah, observers celebrate the conclusion and restart of the annual reading schedule of the Torah. It follows the seven-day holiday of Sukkot, also a time of celebration.
Because the days are meant for rejoicing, sometimes children and teens find themselves in trouble, committing illegal acts such as underage drinking, vandalism, trespassing and other types of dangerous behavior.
Five Towns officials are doing their best to ensure safety for everyone, and asked local police enforcement for help. Deputy Insp. Danny Gluck, commanding officer of the 4th Precinct auxiliary police, said that during Simchat Torah, local teens’ families host parties that serve alcohol.
“High school kids especially have friends who come to visit from Westchester, Teaneck, from all over,” he said. “Underage kids do drink, and we’re not going to tolerate it this year.”
Trouble typically begins later at night and at times could lead to someone getting seriously hurt or ill. “It starts at around 10, 11 at night, and goes all through the night,” he said. “The kids trespass, destroying property, along with the drinking. One year, during patrols, we found a kid lying in the roadway. He’d consumed too much alcohol, so we pumped his stomach.”

In a letter sent to Lawrence residents by village Mayor Martin Oliner, an explanation of the Social Host law, which means that adults caught serving alcohol to minors will be prosecuted, was attached, as a warning to people that it will be enforced. A zero tolerance policy is being enforced in the village, Oliner said.
“It’s not a pervasive problem, just a couple of kids,” he said. “It’s just a couple of bad apples who spoil the bunch. One kid committing these crimes is one kid too many.”
Oliner agrees that underage drinking is a problem during the holiday. “More kids are out too late who have gotten a hold of alcohol,” he said. “They are leaving bottles of alcohol, soda cans, cups and trash on people’s lawns and in the streets.”
To combat activity, the auxiliary police unit will be out in force, patrolling the two villages, Gluck said . “Because it’s a big holiday, especially in the Lawrence and Cedarhurst area, we will have about 8-10 cars out patrolling during those days,” he said. “We are working with the village of Lawrence, for example, putting up big lights to brighten up the darker back streets in the village.”
In the village of Cedarhurst, Trustee Ari Brown said that planning in advance with the police is keeping everyone safe and preventing criminal activity. “We have a wonderful relationship with the NCPD and the Fourth Precinct,” he said. “There will be full-time patrols going all through the night during the holiday. Out of all the villages and areas, only Cedarhurst and Lawrence have given them $12,000 for the extra patrols and protection. We’re thankful for all that they do to help us.”