Collinsville Police Chief Jimmie Richey conducted the "town hall" meeting but emphasized that the police are just one of many groups (and individuals) hoping to find solutions to occasional problems in the downtown area when groups of kids gather after school. Most kids cause no problems are welcome visitors and customers there. Only a "hand full" of parents and merchants attended the meeting held Nov. 12th at the Middle School. Chief Richey and some of the merchants gave examples of past problems with kids darting into traffic or pushing others into oncoming traffic or just congesting business areas by sheer numbers and occasional property damage.

Police have already dealt with those caught violating the law ... but by far the majority of the after school student activities are "legal" although sometimes irritating to merchants and of great safety concern. The issues have been discussed with students at the middle school. It is not a police or school or merchant "responsibility" to "babysit" students after they leave campus in the afternoons and the ultimate responsibility for their citizenship rest with themselves and their parents. Some specific illegal behavior cited was climbing on rooftops and skateboarding on sidewalks downtown, with violators subject to citations and fines. There can be a $180 fine for skateboarding on downtown sidewalks along with a mandatory appearance before the judge.