NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Police Department has received a nearly $5,000 state grant to aid its efforts in combating underage drinking.
The state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division awarded 72 grants across the state totaling $490,960, with amounts ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, according to Northampton Police. It received $4,758.
“I just think it’s important for our agency to utilize this grant to try and combat underage drinking that does occur,” Capt. John Cartledge said. “I think it’s an important tool for educating our public and youth on these types of offenses.”
These funds allow the department more flexibility to provide overtime pay for officers who help with compliance checks that are often beyond the scope of normal patrol routines, Cartledge said. Checks include sting operations, stationing officers outside bars or restaurants and patrolling for parties in secluded locations.
The tactics “allow us to focus on a variety of different areas that may involve underage drinking,” Cartledge said.
Initiatives funded through this grant, in the past three years, resulted in 917 underage citations and 377 arrests across Massachusetts, according to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. In addition, 574 citations were issued to adults and there were 249 arrests of adults connected to underage drinking during that same period.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.