Parents urged to keep eye on parties

Spring break conjures up images of getaways involving beaches and strawberry daiquiris for the college crowd.

But high school students and other teens staying home might enjoy themselves at unsupervised parties, Las Vegas police said.

With that in mind, police want parents, neighbors and students to act responsibly to prevent some of these gatherings from turning violent as they have in the past.

Spring break starts Friday for students in the Clark County School District and lasts through April 2.

Capt. Brian Greenway said Tuesday parents have to take a proactive approach in their children's lives.

"Ask those difficult questions," Greenway said. "Ask to see what's in their backpacks. Know what's in their rooms. If you help us out, you won't see a Metro officer knocking on your door at two in the morning with some type of bad news."

There have been two recent instances in which house parties involving minors have turned deadly. In late February, during a two-day span, two 17-year-old girls were slain by gunfire.

The shootings both took place at house parties in east valley neighborhoods. In each case, the victims might have been unintended victims, police said.

Greenway said parents need to know where their children are at all times. Neighbors have the responsibility of calling police if they see a house party attended by minors that is getting rowdy. And students need to make courageous decisions regarding whether weapons or drugs are present at the parties, Greenway said.

Capt. Patrick Neville, also with Las Vegas police, said there is an increase in house parties during the week of spring break. He said during last year's spring break there were instances in which parties led to deaths.

Neville said police have a new challenge of dealing with text-messaging. Students sometimes text people through their cell phones who are trouble-makers and have not been invited to the party.

"Next thing you know, you have 50 thugs showing up," Neville said.

"The message is, do you want to see your kids graduate? Or do you want to see your kid in a funeral home?"

Neville said curfew hours countywide for those under 18 last from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 5 a.m. on weekends.

Neville said Las Vegas police designate about 50 officers on Fridays and Saturdays who break up rowdy parties throughout the valley in a program called the Unified Party Abatement Concept.

Neville said there have been instances in which police are called to parties that are supervised where officers just check in with adults and leave if there is nothing unlawful happening.

But, he said, parents will ultimately be held responsible if parties are thrown in their homes with or without their knowledge.