Anne Arundel police are rooting out truants from Glen Burnie and North County high schools after the community complained about crime associated with truancy.
“Over the past few months, we?ve received complaints from businesses and residents around these schools about shoplifting, trespassing and loitering,” county police spokesman Sgt. David Feerar said.
Operation TRUEE ? Truancy Reduction Utilizing Encouragement and Enforcement ? netted 57 truants from both schools May 10 and May 31, according to a police report released Tuesday.
Some students were charged with alcohol, drug and deadly weapons violations. Others were returned to the schools for disciplinary actions.
Feerar said students have been found at 7-Eleven and Royal Farms convenient stores, as well as near some power lines and bike trails.
Truancy is becoming a countywide problem, and recent budget cuts have limited staff efforts to reduce unexcused absences, said Bob Mosier, spokesman for the county school system.
“It?s been a problem at those two high schools,” Mosier said. “We don?t have the staff to patrol neighborhoods, not that we would do it anyway. Schools can?t do it alone. Having the police department is a great help to us.”
Though classes end June 15, police will continue to randomly patrol neighborhoods in the northern part of the county this month and in the fall.
According to county school policy, students caught skipping class will have their parents notified and could face 10 or more days of suspension. Other disciplinary actions include community service, transfer to another school and loss of parking privileges for students who drive.
