Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station Captain Brandon Barclay says deputies aren’t trying to punish kids with the city’s 10 p.m. curfew – they’re trying to prevent more late-night gatherings from turning dangerous.

In a conversation with KHTS, Barclay admitted he’s heard the frustration from both parents and students about the curfew. Some say it feels unfair to be stopped after a football game late-night food run. But Barclay pointed to recent incidents, including a bottle attack at Pacific Crest Park that sent a teen to the hospital, as the reason deputies stepped up enforcement.

“This ordinance has been around a long time, but the enforcement needed to be picked up,” Barclay said. “We’ve had some serious incidents of violence … it just begs for action. We were firm but fair, and now we want to work with the community on this issue.”

Barclay explained that large gatherings – sometimes more than 100 teens – can quickly become unsafe for everyone involved, including deputies.

“Imagine you’re a two-person car and you get sent to a scene with 150 kids, some possibly drinking or using drugs,” he said. “Just because they’re juveniles doesn’t mean it can’t be dangerous.”

At recent city council and school board meetings, some students and parents questioned whether curfew enforcement was too heavy-handed. 

Barclay said deputies aren’t looking to bust teens grabbing food at Taco Bell or In-N-Out, but they are concerned when big groups start causing trouble.

“We’re not enforcing somebody just going through a drive-thru,” he said. “It’s when kids are congregating, fighting, or disrupting businesses – that’s what drives the need for deputies to step in.”

Barclay also responded to complaints from adults who said they were carded during operations. He didn’t deny that could happen, but said the bigger picture is keeping the community safe.

“Public safety is paramount, and that’s our top priority,” he said. “We’re going to keep working with the city and families to make sure kids are safe after events like Friday night football games.”

His message to parents:

“Know where your kids are, and ideally be there with them,” Barclay said. “The ordinance isn’t going anywhere.”

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