On Monday, Westfield announced a new Parental Guidance Policy for Westfield Wheaton and Westfield Montgomery that will require visitors under 18 to be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older after 3 p.m. daily beginning September 28.
The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) tells The MoCo Show that enforcement of the new policy will remain the responsibility of the malls, with police becoming involved only when needed.
“The department becomes involved only when an individual needs to be trespassed. Enforcement of the policy remains solely the responsibility of the mall. The department serves as a last resort and remains a partner to the mall when needed, as we always have been,” MCPD tells The MoCo Show.
Westfield tells The MoCo Show that the new policy will be enforced by mall security through identification checks.
“The policy will be enforced through security presence and ID checks, with unaccompanied minors directed to leave or find an eligible adult,” Westfield said.
The policy will be in effect from 3 p.m. until closing each day and applies to interior and exterior common areas at both malls. One supervising adult age 21 or older may accompany up to four minors.
The new policy follows several incidents at the malls in recent months, including a July 31 shooting inside Westfield Wheaton. At approximately 5:58 p.m., police said a 17-year-old fired a handgun at a group of teenagers near Cinnabon and a children’s play area, striking a 13-year-old boy in the ankle. An armed mall security officer apprehended the suspect near Dick’s Sporting Goods and held him until police arrived. The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The July shooting occurred after 3 p.m., during the hours that will be covered by the new Parental Guidance Policy. Westfield said the policy is intended to help maintain a comfortable, safe and family-friendly environment for shoppers, dining guests and other visitors.
The policy takes effect Monday, September 28, at Westfield Wheaton and Westfield Montgomery.
