FARMINGTON – Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to let a deputy apply for a grant to combat underage drinking.
The effort would enable law enforcement to take a proactive approach instead of a reactive one and possibly save lives, said the deputy, Aaron Turcotte.
Alcohol abuse remains one of the critical problems facing families, communities and law enforcement departments in Franklin County, Turcotte told the commissioners. Alcohol is the drug of choice among both youths and adults in the county, and also a leading cause of death for Maine residents under 30, he said.
Underage drinking can result in speeding, accidents, assaults, acquaintance rapes, property crime, disorderly conduct and noise complaints, Turcotte said.
Turcotte asked permission on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department to apply for a grant of $3,000 to $7,500. He hopes to get the largest amount available through the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and the state’s Office of Substance Abuse.
The grant would be used to develop a comprehensive underage drinking strategy, he said.
The Sheriff’s Department has received support from the Farmington and Rangeley police departments, the University of Maine at Farmington, SADs 9 and 58, and the Rangeley School Department, as well as the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office and Sexual Assault Victims Emergency Services.
In collaboration with these organizations, the Sheriff’s Department would use the federal funds to:
• Reduce underage access to alcohol by deterring sales and confiscating alcohol before it is consumed.
• Communicate community standards for acceptable behavior and provide meaningful consequences for violating the standards.
• Focus on preventing high-risk behavior.
• Engage parents as critical partners in influencing their children’s choices and empower them to address the problem directly and constructively with their kids.
A lot of times when parents are called to the scene of a so-called pit party, where there are 50 or 60 people in attendance, the parents are shocked, he said. A lot of times at these parties there is at least one person age 21 or older.
Pit parties, which are held in off-the-beaten-path gravel and sand pits, are popular in many Maine communities.
The grant, which doesn’t require matching funds, would enable the Sheriff’s Department to conduct targeted enforcement details throughout the county without using overtime, as well as working with other agencies to target parties throughout the county.
The effort would not only address the underage drinking problem, Turcotte said, but hopefully get to the source of the problem – including people who are providing the alcohol to minors.
“If we get the booze, we’ve got the party and we might be able to save a life,” Turcotte said.
In other action Tuesday, commissioners voted to buy 250 street signs from White Sign of Stillwater for $9,400, not including posts, brackets, installation and shipping.
They also approved the purchase of three 2005 cruisers – a Ford Expedition, Ford Taurus and Ford Crown Victoria – from Augusta Ford for $54,792 after trade-ins.
Alcohol abuse remains one of the critical problems facing families, communities and law enforcement departments in Franklin County, Turcotte told commissioners.
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