(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
This is DRB Media Communications Digital News. Project Graduation begins May 21st. Local law enforcement will be on the lookout for underage drinking and parties. Danny Barrera has the story.
Odessa, Texas/May 20, 2026-The City of Odessa, Odessa Police Department, ECISD Police and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office held the 2026 Project Graduation press conference.
(Cal Hendrick, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas)
“Really, it’s about keeping everybody safe. It’s just public safety. Uh, the officers, they don’t want to arrest anyone. They don’t want to go to anyone’s house and break up a party. But the truth is, yeah, it is a big night. And I want everybody to celebrate. And sometimes during celebrations, you know, alcohol is served or another drug. And the truth is at least a bad decision matrix, right? And so we want everyone to be safe, want everyone to have tomorrow. We want everyone to, to go home and be assured of a great life. And we don’t want it ruined, though ruined by DWI or by an accident, hurt somebody or somebody serving alcohol to a minor. And there’s a tragedy.”
Odessa Crime Stoppers encourages anyone who is aware of parties with information on underage drinking to call the Odessa Crime Stoppers tip line.
(Susan Rogers, Executive Director-Odessa Crime Stoppers/Odessa, Texas)
“Parents, please pay special attention to pictures that you may see on your student’s social media. Just a few weeks ago at prom, we had a parent that actually saw a picture that her student had taken, and in the background, she saw a lot of alcohol. She made that phone call and we got that taken care of before it got out of hand. So pay attention to what you see on your student’s social media.”
Project Graduation is a drug and alcohol-free all-night party. Graduates who attend enjoy a wide selection of food and snacks and will be eligible for prizes throughout the night. The event will begin May 21st from 11pm to 6am at the Odessa College Sports Center.
(Sara Hinshaw, Director of Community Programs-Basin Lighthouse/Odessa, Texas)
“Our young people there so their brains aren’t developed. Right? That’s where we’re going with the science is their brains aren’t developed. They’re not fully developed even at high school for another seven to eight years. So, every time, especially alcohol that they are taking in that alcohol, it is impacting and doing some kind of damage to every part of their brain, not just one or the other. It’s every part. So, you know, that’s where we want to hone in. You know, if you look at data, you know, about the age of seventeen to nineteen, our addiction rates go up as well. And that’s because our young people are out, you know, spreading their wings, doing what have you. So again, it goes back is we have to give these kids the education and the awareness to make those informed decisions. They’re going to do this. They’re going to do it, you know, but we have to educate them on why they should not do it.”
The Project Graduation event has experienced a slow response from sponsors this year; however, organizers say the event will still move forward as planned and continue the tradition established in previous years
(Clara Pride, Youth Program Director/President/Chair-Project Graduation)
Odessa Police Department Chief Mike Gerke is reminding parents and graduates that hosting parties involving underage drinking can lead to serious legal consequences, including fines and possible arrests for adults who allow alcohol consumption by minors. Police officials continue encouraging parents to know where their teenagers are, monitor graduation parties closely, and provide safe transportation options to prevent tragedies during the graduation celebration.
(Michael Gereke, Chief of Police-Odessa Police Department/Odessa, Texas)
“The Siege of Odessa has a social host ordinance, and that social hosting ordinance can cost you up to one thousand dollars and a night in jail, but also as as a as an adult, if you furnish alcohol to a minor that is furnishing out, furnishing alcohol, right, which is a class B misdemeanor, which is no longer a ticket, that is a jail term. I mean, that’s up to six months in jail if you if you’re convicted in a court of law. So those are things that you need to think about before you go down this road.”
Any tips that result in a citation can result in a cash reward by calling 432-333-TIPS or using the P3TIPS app.
For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.
(David Gomez, AiNews Anchor-DRB Media Communications Digital News)
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