Police will mark known party spots of underage drinkers
Underage high school drinkers may get a visit from some unwanted party crashers.
The West Allis Police Department will soon embark on a PARTY Patrol, a state grant-funded campaign to crack down on underage drinking parties in the city.
The campaign will be unveiled at Spring Into Action, an anti-alcohol event for youth to be held April 2.
Marking the spot
"PARTY," in this case, is an acronym for Promoting Alcohol Reduction Targeting Youth.
One of the program's main components is a lawn sign marking a residence as a suspected party spot.
If police hear in advance of an underage party, they will call the parents to try to stop the gathering. If police cannot reach the parents, a sign will be placed in the yard and officers will keep an eye on the residence all night.
Such signs will also take root outside homes where officers discover an underage party in progress.
Though the signs could end up as a staple in college dorms and basement bars everywhere once a youthful crowd lays claim to them, they are nonetheless part of the conditions of the law enforcement grant and a way to advertise the PARTY Patrol, West Allis Police Lt. Ed Benish said.
Police Department officials want the program to be a proactive way to stop underage drinking and prevent tragedies, such as car accidents, police Capt. Charles Unger added.
Seeking information
Police already know some of the big events during the school year, such as football games or prom, that are prime nights for underage drinking, Unger said.
To find out other places where trouble may happen, police will rely on the people who know about possible parties: local students.
The department will encourage students with information about parties to call Crime Stoppers, which awards cash for such crime-related information. In the past, Crime Stoppers has been an effective means of getting students to provide information on marijuana possession, Benish said.
Police will also search for information using Facebook and other social networking sites, and school liaison officers will also be on the lookout.
As part of the grant, police will also use portable Breathalyzer tests to quickly determine if someone has been drinking. Portable breath tests gained attention in the area when Whitnall school officials used them last year at the high school prom.
Mark Schaaf can be reached at (262) 446-6605.
FYI
WHAT: Spring Into Action, a "night of positive decision making for youth" sponsored by the West Allis-West Milwaukee Youth Advisory Council
WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today, April 2
WHERE: Knights of Columbus, 1800 S. 92nd St.
CONTACT: (414) 302-8085
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