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« Tonight: HSGameTime boys indoor track | Today | Former Pats' assistant will meet with NFL commissioner » April 23, 2008Police chief: Broad effort needed to fight teen drinkingBarrington Police Chief John LaCross thinks that if a person has alcohol in their bodies, then that person possesses alcohol. But as it stands now, the police can only arrest an underage drinker if the person is holding alcohol, has it in a bag, or within arm’s reach. “If you come across someone and they are intoxicated,” LaCross said of the current laws, “there’s no charge.” LaCross, whose town has seen several tragic accidents involving teens and alcohol, said he has been working with Kathleen Sullivan, the town’s task force coordinator, researching consumption laws in some states that make it illegal for minors to have alcohol in their system. In some states, this means police can administer a blood alcohol content test to minors who are not behind the wheel. “Clearly,” LaCross said this morning, “if you’re not 21, you shouldn’t be drunk.” In the meantime, he said, aggressive patrol work is a good thing: last Saturday, eight teenagers were found drinking in the Brickyard Pond area of the town. One of the teenagers arrested was Ryan Greenberg, the now-18-year-old who is awaiting a trial on a second-degree murder for the summer death of his friend, Patrick Murphy. The teenagers were allegedly outside for hours, with three bottles of vodka and at least one –– maybe two –– 30-packs of beer, he said. Patrolman Wesley McCoy Jr. “basically prevented another adverse event,” LaCross said of the officer who found the teenagers. “Alcohol poisoning, or fighting, or a car crash; we know the negative consequences from underage drinking. But apparently,” he added, “the tragedies and deaths of their friends is not changing the culture the way it should.” But neither, ultimately can the police, he said. “It has to start at home, with parents, the coaches, the community in general and the kids themselves.” There are a lot of good kids, he said –– some that have made good decisions and some that have made bad decisions –– just as there are in any city or town across America. Drinking is a national problem, LaCross said, and he thinks it needs a national solution; tighter regulations on advertising and portrayals in TV and film. Teens, he said caught “into this culture of drinking because they’re inundated with these images: Super Bowl ads; movies that glamorize house parties when the parents aren’t home… it’s a tough battle.” "We can't solve the problem," LaCross said. "The kids and the parents have to be a part of the solution." -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson CommentsBob | April 23, 2008 6:02 PM link At my university, "internal possession" is the number one reason for arrest. Your body is considered a container and if you're underage, you are in possession of that "container". PP | April 23, 2008 6:39 PM link The chief is absolutely right about the world around us being such a negative influence. How do the parents of these children all over the country(even the world)teach thier children not to be influenced in a negative way by TV, movies and more when they themselves have had exposer to the same wold for many years. I have to wonder if the parents of the kid's who are getting in trouble had similar experiences, surely not news making stories but do they not believe that merely getting arrested is something terrible. Let's face it alot of people watch TV I don't believe the majority of kids drink heavily and make terrible decisions. I just have to wonder how natural it is to them. Just the thought of how my mother and father would feel if I ever was arrested for soemthing whould make me do the right thing. Although I don't belive I was a perfect teenager but to have the b---s to drink outside, at a pretty obvious place in Barrington where the police are sure to patrol, partying with someone who is supposed to be on his best behavior because of possibly being the cause of someones death, is a slap in the face to law enforcement. They did a great job finding these kids, thank God they did, the head lines could have been much worse. It sounds like it's always the same kids. Go figure. Kim | April 24, 2008 12:23 AM link Where did these teens get 3 bottles of vodka and 1 to 2 30 packs of beer???? Find the source. If it comes from a private home, the owners should be fined. Mrs P | April 24, 2008 6:30 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Poor Barrington. The kids are spoilt rotten, some never worked a day in their lives, they drive around in fancy cars and their parents cover for them. Morally Bankrupt. I hope that kid enjoys his stay at the ACI.. That is what happens when you have people having too much money . Shame on their parents. But of course the parents are either ripping off the working class(Doctors, lawyers etc...) or drinking themselves. We need a revolutionn in this country!!!!!!!