LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – Lynchburg City Council will vote Tuesday, January 28th on bringing back a city-wide youth curfew. The curfew was first voted on in May of 2023 after the death of three youths in the hill city. Since then, the council has extended it twice, but that ended on the first of this year
The new curfew would begin February 17th 2025 and end on February 18th 2026. According to the police department’s Deputy Chief, Ken Edwards, as of December 31st, 49 individuals have been charged with violating that original curfew.
In those curfew hours, Edwards says juvenile motor vehicle theft was down 57%, going from seven in 2023 to three in 2024. Sexual assault was up 50% with two in 2023 to three in 2024
“My gut instinct is that it helps us. It helps keep the community safe. And, you know, it’s another tool that we’re able to use. And yes, I think it worked. And it has the potential to continue working,” said Edwards.
In a statement, John Hartzell the communications manager for Lynchburg police says:
“If the council decides to extend the curfew, we will be prepared to serve accordingly. Either way, our job really doesn’t change. We will continue to serve and protect this great community. “
According to the council, the idea of the teen curfew came to be following the deaths of Malaysia Soloman, Terrion Marshall and Kingston Campbell.
Ward IV council member Chris Faraldi questioned Edwards on the data, saying data can be manipulated and he urged his colleagues to vote against another curfew. Council member at large Stephanie reed says the curfew is what the community wants and it’s the council’s job to listen to it.
“In practice, this is the local government stepping forward and saying, we know better than the parents and we’re going to put our foot down. I’ve long said I see no difference between a mask and I see no difference between a curfew to one and the same. So I vehemently disagree,” said Chris Faraldi.
“I’ve had parents more inconvenienced with the fact that their kids have to be in an hour earlier. Well, go talk to Malaysia’s family and Terrion’s family and Kingston’s family if you’re inconvenienced and see how they feel,” said Stephanie Reed.
Vice Mayor, Curt Deimer, and council members Sterling Wilder, Marty Misjuns, all said they supported another curfew. Council member Jacqueline Timmer said she wanted to change some of the wording in the ordinance, but would support a curfew.
Lynchburg City Council will vote on the curfew ordinance at 7 p.m. on Tuesday January 28th in the council chamber in City Hall.