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Laurel mayor cites public safety in moving youth curfew, highlights summer programs
Summary
Mayor Keith Sittinore said the city advanced a temporary youth curfew after reports of fights and firecrackers during July 4 celebrations and used the episode to promote Summer Night events, local youth programs and heat- and water-safety guidance for residents.
Mayor Keith Sittinore said the city of Laurel moved its youth curfew earlier this month after reports that large groups of teenagers disrupted celebrations and created safety hazards in the town center.
"Teen takeover is a new phenomenon, a TikTok sensation when juvenile, young folks get together and come into cities and cause disruption and chaos," Sittinore said during an interview on Laurel TV's Living in Focus. "It became too dangerous and put the city at risk. ... Number 1 priority for me is public safety, and that's why we immediately had a curfew." He said he and Chief Hammond discussed the change at the command center and that additional local and surrounding police were on duty for the event.
The move was an executive, operational decision described on air; no city council vote or ordinance was referenced. Sittinore thanked the FOCUS July committee and volunteers for their work on the city's bicentennial celebration and said the curfew was intended to reduce fights, the throwing of firecrackers and other hazardous behavior.
Sittinore also outlined the city's summer engagement strategy aimed at offering supervised activities for young people. He said Laurel operates three community centers, two swimming pools, teen drop-in nights and summer-camp programs, and that the city's Summer Night program will kick off July 11. "We're gonna have a DJ. We're gonna have pizza. ... From 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., that's three hours," Sittinore said, adding that college and military recruiters and college advisers will be on site to provide resources for students graduating in 2027.
Beyond public-safety and youth programs, Sittinore offered practical precautions for summer weather and water activities. He urged residents to stay hydrated, check on seniors, never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles and limit outdoor activity during peak-heat hours. On water safety he recommended supervising children, teaching them to swim, using life jackets and ensuring a lifeguard is present.
The interview closed with a light rapid-fire segment in which Sittinore named the beach his preferred summer spot, chose hot dogs as a cookout favorite, and described summer in Laurel in one word as "Fun." Williams directed viewers to laureltv.org for information about city events and programming and thanked the band Oracle and many volunteers for the July 4 festivities.
The curfew change was presented as an immediate safety response by the mayor and local police; the broadcast did not identify any formal legislative action or timeline to lift the curfew.
