Ogunquit News
Police take part in effort to curb underage drinking
OGUNQUIT - Local officers were among law enforcement personnel from about 25 departments across the state to take part in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) training earlier this month on ways to prevent underage drinking.
A nationally recognized expert from the Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation enhanced the curriculum offered by in-state trainers experienced with enforcing underage drinking laws.
According to the OSA, the discussions encompassed social availability in rural communities, controlling party dispersal, strategies for preventing third-party transactions and conducting source investigations.
This training was accredited by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
In addition to the Ogunquit Police Department, officers from Wells were among the York County participants in the event.
Partners in the collaborative training included the Maine Department of Public Safety, Maine Environmental Substance Abuse Prevention Center, Maine Higher Education Alcohol Prevention Partnership, B.C. Consultants, Westbrook Police Department, Knox County Sheriff's Office, Piscataquis County Sheriff's Office, and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Funding was provided through federal grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The group met in Portland at Keely the Katerer's and Verrillo's.
