Fetched: December 30th, 2008, 2:00pm EST
Yarmouth police are hoping for a fresh start for Dennis Pond in the New Year.
The conservation area was closed in November after sexual activity became a nuisance in the area.
“We had hoped to get everything done in about two or three months,” said Yarmouth Police Lt. Steven Xiarhos Tuesday.
“They cleaned it all out and it’s good to go, so we thought the New Year would be a fresh start,” he said.
Xiarhos said plans are to reopen the trails Jan. 1.
The woods were full of used condoms, pornographic magazines and other related items prior to the closure and Xiarhos the police have a plan to prevent individuals from engaging in the same behavior.
“The plan pretty much is to deter. That’s the main focus, to deter any of the problem people from coming back. And how we do that is 1, the media attention, which was good, and 2, to have cameras, which are there,” said Xiarhos.
Another large part of the deterrence will be the department’s plans to send letters to anyone who uses the trails in the future.
“We get the license plate and run it and send a letter to the registered owner to let them know the area has been known for this type of problem and to keep their eyes and ears open for any trouble in future visits,” said Xiarhos, adding that people who use the facility appreciate that we’re monitoring the site. He added that if the letter is sent to someone who is engaging in unwanted activities, it may prevent them from returning.
“It was one of the recommended guidelines from the Department of Justice,” Xiarhos said of the letters.
“Of course, we’re still going to do our foot patrols periodically and anyone caught will be arrested and their photo will be sent to the media,” he said.
Xiarhos said enforcing the law becomes difficult when individuals go deep into the woods to have consensual sex, because in Massachusetts it’s not against the law to have sex if it’s not in a public place.
In and around the trails is considered illegal activity because that is a public place, but deep in the woods the police have no authority to arrest people.
Xiarhos said police are hoping that the potential for the letter to end up in the hands of a wife or relative will deter those tempted to engage in sexual activity.
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