Glen Rock Institutes 'Mischief Night' Curfew

With what could be an vicious storm making landfall early next week and disturbing reports of child luring attempts in the county of late, the Glen Rock Mayor and Council have decided to institute an 8 p.m. curfew on All Hallow's Eve.

Glen Rock Police Cpt. Jonathan Miller said Thursday that the borough will be instituting an 8 p.m. curfew on what is colloquially known as "Goosey Night" or "Cabage Night" or "Mischief Night," Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Those under the age of 18 are not allowed to roam around the streets after 8 p.m., Councilman Art Pazan said Thursday.

The recommendation came from Glen Rock Police Chief Frederick Stahman.

"It has to do with the luring incidents" reported throughout the county in recent weeks, Stahman said Friday morning. 

Although the borough will not be expressly enforcing a curfew on Halloween, officials are discouraging people from venturing out past 8 p.m., Miller told Patch. Police recommend that parents be with their children or know where they're going and whom they're with.

There will be a zero-tolerance policy on mischief as well, according to police.

"The deliberate destruction of someone else's property is a criminal offense on any night of the year and will be treated as such," the borough wrote in an e-mail sent to residents. "The Glen Rock Police Department is taking a proactive approach to address these serious issues and encourages parents to do the same. While the Glen Rock Police Department will have extra patrols out on both nights, there is no substitute for a parent's vigilant gaze." 

"We're asking everyone to cooperate, to be inside by 8 p.m," Stahman said. "I'm sure we're not going to get everybody but we'll do the best we can."

Public Safety Chair Michael O'Hagan said the mayor and council thought there were compelling safety reasons to institute a curfew on Tuesday.

"We're [also] looking at some potentially really bad weather from the hurricane," O'Hagan said. "We're just trying to make sure people stay safe."

The hurricane is expected to hit the Bergen County-area late Sunday, according to an advisory issued by the county’s emergency management office. It could bring with it significant rain, wind and waves, forecasters have said.

A curfew on the night before Halloween due to weather concerns is nothing new in the borough. A 5 p.m. curfew for those under the age of 18 was issued for Goosey Night in 2011 due to the snowstorm.

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