For Immediate Release

Tuesday,  July 31, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Newburyport Police Urge Safety During Yankee Homecoming Festivities

NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Mark Murray is urging all residents and visitors to Newburyport for the annual Yankee Homecoming celebration of seaport pride and history to enjoy the festivities safely and to allow everyone to share in the celebrations, which bring thousands of families and visitors to the city.

Yankee Homecoming runs through Aug. 5

Historically, the Yankee Homecoming festival draws a large amount of youth that converge on the city’s waterfront during concerts and other events, especially in the evenings. Revelers are usually able to enjoy the evening without incident. However, Marshal Murray is reminding youth and their parents about the law and about an increased police presence after a series of escalating incidents last evening.

There were more than 200 teenagers on the waterfront last night, and officers were faced with a variety of challenges including:

• Two juveniles engaged in a fist fight
• A water bottle thrown at a police officer, striking the officer
• Destruction of property
• Theft of a handicapped street sign
• Profanity and inappropriate language for a family setting
• A teenage girl screaming loudly and faking distress, only to follow with “just kidding” when officers responded

“Our mission is to ensure that families and visitors can enjoy all that Yankee Homecoming has to offer, and the actions of these groups of youths will not be tolerated,” Marshal Murray said. “We have visitors of all ages that are here to enjoy the music and the other events the downtown Newburyport has to offer.

“Tonight and throughout the week there will be an increased police presence downtown to ensure that the visitors to Newburyport will feel safe and can enjoy what they came here for. I urge all parents to talk with their children about appropriate behavior while downtown and respecting those who are here to enjoy the festivities.”

Marshal Murray cautions that assault and battery on police officers, reporting fake crimes, public and underage drinking, and fighting will result in appropriate actions taken by police officers.

“We want everyone to have a fun and safe experience at Yankee Homecoming. Please talk to your children,” Marshal Murray said. “Police officers are there doing their jobs and ensuring public safety. The overwhelming majority of the youth that we encounter are well-behaved. Our goal is to have zero arrests every year.”

###