Monroe County to utilize underage drinking tipline

Monroe County to utilize underage drinking tipline

Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn, along with local law enforcement personnel, including Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti, approved Monroe County to utilize the Underage Drinking Tipline established by Regional Action Phone, Inc. and Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Started in 2005 in Genesee and Orleans counties, the Tipline serves as a prevention and intervention safety net for young people. By calling 343-1932 or 1-800-851-1932, concerned citizens can report underage drinking parties or other activities that are harmful to the health, safety and/or welfare of youth. "Our agency has evaluated the service and welcomes the opportunity to participate in the RAP/GCASA Tipline," O'Flynn said. "We are confident it will prove to be an effective tool in the fight to stop underage drinking parties and to protect our young people."

O'Flynn, Captain Donald Bergmann of Zone C and Varrenti were instrumental in bringing the Tipline to Monroe County. Captain Bergmann said that calls taken by RAP Listeners will be relayed to the 911 Center in Monroe County where the information will be dispatched to the appropriate law enforcement agency. "If the Tipline allows us, as law enforcement, to become aware of underage drinking parties, drug use or inappropriate behavior, and through our intervention we are able to rectify a potentially volatile life-threatening situation, then I believe the service will have proven to be invaluable," Varrenti said. "I'm very grateful that we have organizations like RAP and GCASA that promote these types of programs. For police chiefs, sheriffs and community leaders not to take advantage of this service would, in my opinion, be an injustice to the communities we serve."

According to Holly Baxter, RAP executive director, the Tipline is being used on a regular basis in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. A call to the Batavia City Police Department in January led to the break-up of an underage drinking party and to the arrest of 10 people ranging from the ages of 16 to 20. "As a result of the Tipline being present in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, parties have been stopped before starting, broken up before things got out of hand and arrests made," Baxter said. "More importantly, young lives were kept from becoming headlines in the next day's news."

RAP is conducting an aggressive outreach campaign to get Tipline materials - magnets, fact sheets, pens and business cards - in as many hands as possible in Monroe County. To date, there have been 16 reponses with over 3,400 pieces of Tipline materials distributed. "We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg," Baxter said.

Maryann Bowman, director of prevention services at GCASA, said the Tipline is "a progressive environmental strategy that GCASA's Prevention Department and the Drug-Free Communities Coalition have incorporated to change community norms regarding underage drinking. It shows how well our communities work together - the Batavia police and the sheriff's departments from Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and now Monroe counties along with other local law enforcement agencies," she said. "Ultimately, the Tipline will save lives - our kids' lives."

For information about the Tipline or to order promotional materials, call 343-1932 or 1-800-851-1932.