Chief Warns of Vape Pens, Wrong Way Parking

Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck is urging parents to keep a closer eye on their teens following a recent uptick in arrests involving THC vape pens at Olney High School—offenses that could lead to felony charges and lasting consequences for young people.

“We’ve seen a rash of THC vape pens going around the high school,” Chief Birbeck said. “These are felony-level drugs. It doesn’t matter if the student is 17 and still in school—they can be arrested and charged. I hate to start young ones’ lives out with criminal histories, but if they are going to be running around with drugs, that’s what we have to do.”

The chief encouraged parents to stay involved and aware of what their children are doing, both online and in person.

On the topic of city ordinances, Chief Birbeck reminded residents that parking the wrong way on streets is not only illegal but dangerous. “It puts your car in opposing traffic,” he explained. “I know we don’t write a lot of parking citations, but I want people to park the right way. It’s the law, and it could keep you from being liable if your vehicle gets hit—your insurance might not cover it otherwise.”

The Olney Police Department has officially moved into its new headquarters, with a ribbon- cutting and building dedication planned for a future date. “We’ll have snacks, tours, and post pictures of the old PD so people can see where we came from,” Chief Birbeck said. “The atmosphere is 100 percent better. The air is clean. It’s such a blessing to be here, and I hope Olney residents are happy with the new space.”

Finally, the chief issued a seasonal reminder about securing property as warmer weather arrives. “This is the time of year when we start seeing more burglaries,” he warned. “Opportunity thieves are out—so roll up your windows, lock your doors, and do not leave firearms in your vehicles. We saw this happen recently in Graham, and guns were stolen.”