El Segundo Police Department has partnered with the Manhattan Beach Police Department, Hermosa Beach Police Department and The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to conduct enforcement activities of licensed establishments authorized to sell alcohol via a grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Written by Manhattan Beach Police Department, this year’s grant of $71,923 will help cover the cost of the operations (overtime, training, equipment, etc) with the grant operational period extending to June 30, 2019.
ESPD will work alongside MBPD and HBPD to conduct various sting operations in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach. There are roughly 300 licensed establishments throughout the three cities – the three departments will work together to meet and educate as many establishments as possible.
The three departments will coordinate efforts together – in some cases working the same location and in other cases different locations at the same time.
Licensed Establishments On-notice
According to Sgt. Ryan Danowitz from the El Segundo Police Department, the goal of the operation is for the licensed establishments to succeed, not fail. They’ll visit the licensed establishment before an operation to let the clerks, servers, waitresses, bartenders, and business owners know that the operation is taking place.
The licensed establishments are not the only potential culprits – it’s residents, too! According to Sgt. Ryan Danowitz of ESPD, it’s very common for residents to be cited as part of these sting operations.
The departments will use two approaches:
- Shoulder Tap Operations – A Shoulder-tap Operation is when the police officers employ a decoy under the age of 21 to stand outside an establishment and ask customers entering to buy him/her alcohol. The decoy will stand outside the establishment asking customers to buy alcohol – if the customer illegally purchases alcohol for the minor they receive a citation.
- Minor Decoy – With a Minor Decoy operation, a decoy under the age of 21 tries to buy alcohol from a bartender, waitress, or business owner. The decoy will present their real I.D. when asked. Should the decoy succeed in purchasing alcohol, the establishment receives a citation and jeopardizes their license with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
We expect the results of this grant will provide a better understanding of the need to comply with alcohol-related laws and regulations. This will enhance the safety of our citizens and protect the quality of life that exists in our communities. Sgt. Ryan Danowitz ESPD.
For more information about this grant, please contact Sgt. Ryan Danowitz at (310) 524-2200 or at rdanowitz@elsegundo.org
