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Chief Benjamin C. Fox explains “Operation 420″ . Submitted by Wyckoff Police Department.
If you’re a parent of a child who frequently displays or speaks of “420”, do you know what it means? Read on and find out. Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin C. Fox advises that his department will once again take an aggressive stance against substance abuse by the youth of the community.
Over the past few years, Wyckoff Police officers have seen a marked increase in the numbers of individuals that hang out in wooded areas or at the vacant homes of friends with the express purpose of smoking marijuana (often called weed) or drinking alcohol. This behavior typically tends to increase when the weather turns warmer and more people are outside.
Again this year, police officers will be checking wooded areas throughout town searching for locations where kids tend to hang out. It’s our way of getting the “weeds” out of the woods, stated Chief Fox. In a Wyckoff Police Department initiative dubbed “Operation 420”, Det. Sgt. Joseph Soto and Det. Michael Musto, who are both assigned to the detective bureau, will coordinate the program with uniformed officers.
Sadly, far too many youngsters are sent to the hospital each year with alcohol poisoning due to excessive drinking. The use of illegal narcotics is not only a criminal violation, but dangerous to the health and safety of teenagers. A word to parents……… If your child is caught, they will be arrested and charged.
Complaints are filed with Bergen County Juvenile Court if they are under 18 years of age. If your child is 18 years or older, they are arrested as an adult and have a criminal record. Don’t let that happen. Be a caring parent who takes the time and makes an effort to check on your kids and know what they are doing and who their friends are.
If they get together in large groups, who are they hanging out with? Don’t be afraid to call the parents of your children’s friends to verify that the kids really are where they claim to be. There have been countless cases over the years where police officers have picked up kids in the middle of the night, and when the parents are contacted, it’s learned that they were all told different stories regarding where their child was staying. The kids get away with that when they know that their parents don’t make any effort at all to verify stories.
Ok, so what do the numbers 420 mean? People who say they are “420 friendly” mean that they are into smoking marijuana. There are various theories on the origin of 420, one of which is that students would get together at 4:20pm after school to use drugs. The significance of 420 has been kept somewhat underground and known mostly among those that use marijuana. Some marijuana smokers have used the code to talk openly about the drug in front of parents or teachers. Many parents are not aware of the symbolism of 420, and should consider it a warning sign if your child uses or displays it. Simply put, 420 is a symbol of marijuana use.
The Wyckoff Police Department is responsible for law enforcement. Parents are responsible for their children. Because we both care about their safety, let’s work together and do what we can to curb drug and alcohol use.
