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The Virgin Valley High School Senior Class of 2012 may have many plans after graduation, but their first night as “Graduates” will be spent with the Mesquite Police Department.
The Mesquite Police Department wants to give the graduating class a fun-filled, safe place to spend time after graduation ceremonies. The evening will consist of basketball, racquetball, movies, swimming, food and, of course, prizes for some lucky graduates.
Members of the Virgin Valley High School Student Senate along with Mesquite Police Officers will be contacting local Mesquite businesses to help with donations of food, prizes and cash to make this event possible.Each graduate will receive a raffle ticket to see who wins the many prizes that will be handed out to those in attendance.
Some of the prizes may include lap top computers, televisions, or a chance to grab money in a wind blown money pit.
The grad party will be held on Thursday, June 7, at the Mesquite Recreation Center. The doors will be open from 10:00PM until midnight. The doors are locked from midnight to 5:00AM and NO ONE will be allowed to leave, unless it is with a parent.
“The Mesquite Police Department wants a safe and fun environment for graduating seniors,” said Chief Troy Tanner. “This will be the eighth year that the officers have volunteered to spend quality time with our future leaders of Mesquite and we would like to continue it as a fun event for the graduating seniors”.
For those who would like to donate to Grad Night Out, please contact Officer Jeffrey Smith at 702-346-5262 ext #6134.
Commentary
Posted Date: 05/09/2012 Are you kidding me, Officer Smith? You are not serious? Kurt Sawyer identified hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be used for soccer fields for Bryan Dangerfield. Since Dangerfield is the rec center honcho, get the money from Sawyer. It's there just ask for it. This request is a slap in the face to tax payers when the city will pay for soccer fields for out of towners but not to keep our kids safe. Officer Smith, you should be ashamed. By: Kenny
Posted Date: 05/09/2012 The police officers, including the chief make over $100,000 a year. Maybe it is time they kick in a few bucks with their Union. Constantly begging money is wrong. City should have a policy forbidding city employees to ask for any donation. Kenny is right. The city wants the program, the city can fund it. By: ronnie
Posted Date: 05/09/2012 Officer Smith should ask Bryan Dangerfield for the money. He was going to spend millions so Utah kids could play soccer. Maybe he should take some of the money out of his budget for our kids here in Mesquite. By: Vic M
Posted Date: 05/09/2012 This is the dumbest thing MPD has come up with yet. Must be saving there own money to pay more overtime. By: David
Posted Date: 05/10/2012
Let me try to set the record straight on Grad Night, before the hateful comments go any further. Grad Night was organized by the Mesquite police department to protect the lives of YOUR teens, after they walked off the graduation platform. For some to insinuate this was done for any other reason is complete and utter blasphemy. Instead of criticizing the police, you should be thankful the members of the police department (sworn officers and civilians), who DONATE their time to be sure YOUR teens are safe after graduation. I had the opportunity of being in charge of this program for several years, as the School Resource Officer, and can speak firsthand about the necessity and value of a program like this to protect YOUR graduates.
Secondly, I fail to understand why anyone would begrudge a police officer for making a salary, considering the risks faced daily. I can say unequivocally, the Mesquite police department is one of the finest departments I have ever seen. I’m not new to law enforcement and had many years as a police officer in both Ohio & Mesquite. Your police department shines through as one of the best. More emphasis should be placed on the fact your officers combat the criminal element in and around Mesquite daily in an effort to make YOUR safety a top priority of theirs.
Before any of you complain about your police, the programs, or the salary they make, I would encourage you to walk one day in their shoes. I have and I can tell you it’s no cakewalk. Some in Mesquite lack the respect they should have for the hard working men and women of the Mesquite police department. They deserve your respect and support, not badgering and condemnation. Regarding the reference made to other members of the City Administration, they have nothing to do with the police; therefore, intertwining them into this issue has no logical value whatsoever.
Be happy you are blessed with the police department you have, it could be much worse!
By: Robert W. Everett
Police - Fire Department
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