Cedar Rapids Today

The abrupt end to the school year has apparently brought an early rise in youth violence in Cedar Rapids.

When classes were in session, educators and others provided an outlet for at-risk youth dealing with academic, social, mental and emotional difficulties. But the COVID-19 pandemic left these children with little or no means to contact their mentors and school, police, city government and civic officials scrambling to solve the newfound problem.

Dale Todd, a Cedar Rapids City Council member and chairman of the city’s public safety and youth services committee, said there is no blueprint as to how communities can manage at-risk kids now and during the summer, The Gazette reports.

Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman said his agency saw a decline in calls for service when social isolation measures were first implemented, but the numbers spiked again. According to Jerman, other communities besides Cedar Rapids are experiencing something similar.

Last month, Cedar Rapids police responded to an alleged shooting at Bever Park. Authorities say the incident involved about 20 people and was sparked by a heated social media row between two young women. An 18-year-old woman was injured in the shooting.

Police also responded to a shooting at 15th Street NW which claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy. The chief said the coronavirus prompted authorities to rethink their approach when the risk for exposure to the disease is present.

Four people at the Bever Park melee were charged with violating Gov. Kim Reynolds’ order prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people, with police charging one individual with disorderly conduct.

Todd expressed his frustration with Cedar Rapids having to deal with two outbreaks: an epidemic of violence and the coronavirus.

Still, it is a small group of the population who purportedly bear responsibility for the most serious, recurring issues, according to Jerman and Washington High School Principal John Cline.