April 15,
2005
Sealed Orders Offer Safety Plan for Eagle Point
By: QUINCY C.
COLLINS
GEORGE
COUNTY
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George
County Youth Court adopted a plan Thursday to improve safety for
Eagle Point Christian Academy, its cadets and the Lucedale
community.
Sheriff Garry Welford, the State Fire Marshal's Office, District
Attorney Tony Lawrence, Eagle Point attorney Trey Bobinger, and
Youth Court prosecutor Mark Maples offered suggestions during a
Thursday hearing.
The
court's order and its recommendations were made in response to
growing safety concerns about the academy in the wake of an April 8
riot.
Nine
cadets were sent to Forrest County Juvenile Detention Center for
disorderly conduct and not cooperating with deputies. Nearly 30
cadets were later expelled.
"In
light of the events that transpired last weekend, everyone [present
at the meeting] was in agreement that certain things had to be
done," Maples said.
The
order and its recommendations are sealed. Further corrective action
will be taken by the academy in the near future to address other
concerns, Maples said.
Maples
said the academy's recent association with Mississippi Security
Police is a major step taken to protect cadets and the community.
Mississippi Security Police, a private Pascagoula firm that
contracts with Jackson and Harrison counties to operate juvenile
detention centers, has been on campus since the incident.
District Attorney Tony Lawrence said the goal of the agreement is to
prevent the academy from being a burden on George County law
enforcement.
"I
hope the agreed order will improved the safety and security of the
individuals there and prevent the academy from having another
incident," Lawrence said.
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