Post Date:09/25/2006 12:15 AMNEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anne Aldrich September 20, 2006 (661) 723-6053
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER DOUBLES FUNDING FOR GRANT PROGRAM TO FIGHT ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIME
$3 million is being distributed to 41 local law enforcement agencies
Los Angeles, California – California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Director Jerry Jolly announced today that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has budgeted $3 million this year for a grant program to help ABC and 41 local law enforcement agencies fight alcohol-related crime in California.
“This is double the amount of money we spent on this program last year because it is so important to increase protection for youth and to shut down problem locations that have contributed to an increase in crime,” ABC Director Jolly said.
ABC will administer 41 grants to local police and sheriff’s departments through its Grant Assistance Program (GAP).
The Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have had success with the grant program.
“The program increases protections for youth and improves the quality of life in Los Angeles neighborhoods,” said Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton. Under the GAP Program, the Los Angeles Police Department made over 1500 arrests, helped shut down eight ABC licensed locations, and fined violators over $500,000 since July 1, 2005. Since 1995, the Los Angeles Police Department has closed 84 problem locations in the city under the GAP grant program.
“We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program resources have been invested,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. Last year the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrested 958 people in over 440 operations as a result of the grant.
The Lancaster Station was one of the recipients of this grant, receiving $99,927. Since July 2006, Lancaster Station has provided specialized three-day ABC training to three deputies. “With efforts in full-swing, the Lancaster Station has already demonstrated impressive results,” comments Lancaster Councilman Ron Smith. Three “minor decoy” operations have resulted in 14 arrests. One “shoulder-tap” operation has resulted in four arrests. Two underage drinking operations at the Antelope Valley Fair resulted in seven arrests. The Lancaster Station has also conducted 46 business-friendly IMPACT inspections at off & on sale locations.
“Thanks to grant funds, Lancaster Station as been able to conduct more ABC operations in the past two months than in the previous two years,” remarks Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Lieutenant Wallace Fullerton.
The GAP Program was created in 1995 to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies in order to put bad operators out of business, keep alcohol away from minors and bring penalties such as fines, suspensions or revocations against businesses that violate the law. The funds will be used to reduce the number of alcohol sales to minors, obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol, and other criminal activities such as illegal drugs.
ABC Director Jerry Jolly said, “The Governor’s leadership on this issue means so much to this State because too many young people are killed in alcohol-related crashes every year. If we can limit youth access to alcohol then we can save lives and strengthen communities”. The GAP Program has distributed over $17.5 million to local law enforcement to combat alcohol-related crime.
For a list of grant agencies, go to the ABC web site at www.abc.ca.gov., and click on ABC Special Programs.
