Thursday, September 9, 1999 Older Editions

Arrests still controversial

By Neil Fater

A few weeks after police made an example of four of about 50 kids who were hanging out at Sanborn School, Police Chief Brian Pattullo wants to convince people that those arrests were not examples of how police and youth typically interact.

Pattullo seems particularly stung by comments attributed to Selectman Brian Major that the arrests could drive a wedge between police and Andover youth. Those comments appeared in a Sunday, Aug. 29 article in a Boston paper, after a pair of articles about the incident appeared in the Townsman.

"I think that comment is more hurtful than the incident itself," says Pattullo. "We've put a lot of effort into building a relationship with the youth and youth services. I think we've done a good job in the last year with that.

"I think a comment that one such incident of moving kids along and making a few arrests has undermined relations is very short-sighted," says Pattullo. "We try to treat youth with respect, the same way we try to give everyone the respect they deserve."

Police have repeatedly said the four youths arrested and charged with trespassing at Sanborn were chosen at random, and were not doing anything significantly different than the other youths there. Police arrested them to try to put a stop to the gatherings at the school that had been disturbing neighbors.

"That comment is very shortsighted because as a police department, we have to look at the entire situation," says Pattullo. "People deserve peace and quiet in their neighborhood, and shouldn't have to listen to loud noises and squealing tires. Other children deserve play areas they can play in."

Police say they had found beer bottles and drug paraphernalia near the school for weeks, and found such items the night they made the four arrests.

Major could not be reached for comment before the Townsman's press deadline.

During his time as police chief, Pattullo has put considerable effort into encouraging community policing, and interaction with youth. But he notes it is inevitable police will clash with some youth.

"There's always a small minority that are disrespectful, and they seem to get into the public eye. I'm certainly not talking about the youth in (the Sanborn) incident," he says.

"But unfortunately, there's a small minority of kids who give the impression that there's the kids versus the police. There was that group of kids when I was in school, when you were in school and now," he says.