Cops in Shops program deemed ‘successful’

BY JENNIFER DOME
Staff Writer

BRICK — The township police department has put the state’s money to work.

This year, the department received $10,000 for its Cops in Shops program, an effort meant to deter minors from purchasing alcohol and prevent licensed premises from selling to those who are under 21 years of age.

According to township police Sgt. John Sutton, the township has never received this much money for the program in the past.

“It’s been very successful the last few years,” Sutton said.

For July, August and September, 12 Cops in Shops details were conducted, according to a report compiled by Sutton. These details, which resulted in 27 arrests, were held to “identify and reduce the purchase of alcoholic beverages by minors,” the report states.

The arrests made included charges of minors attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages or having another person purchase alcohol for them. Those purchasing alcohol for a minor were also arrested, according to the report.

Sutton said the department is able to catch onto such transactions because a police officer is present inside the store, as well as in the parking lot, during Cops in Shops details.

Five licensed premises participated in the details during what Sutton called the busiest time — the summer months. The details were conducted at Buy-Rite Lenape Liquors, Mantoloking Road; Forbes Liquors, Brick Boulevard; Peterson’s Liquors, Route 70; Spirits Unlimited, Route 70 and Chambersbridge Road; and Brick Town Liquors, Lanes Mill Road.

Businesses are happy to cooperate with the Cops in Shops program, Sutton said, because their liquor licenses and livelihoods are at stake if they sell to minors.

“It’s a plus for them; they want to discourage underage drinking also,” Sutton said.

The Cops in Shops program was founded by the Century Council, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that wanted to combat underage drinking problems. The program went into effect in college and seashore communities in New Jersey in 1996, and was expanded to other towns in 1998.

According to Sutton, when officers express an interest in the program, they are trained by the State Police’s Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Enforcement Unit. All officers who participate in the program are working overtime hours and are paid with the state funds.

This year’s grant included money for compliance checks — funds that weren’t granted prior to this year. This will allow the department to insure that various businesses with consumption licenses are checking patrons’ identification before serving them alcoholic beverages, Sutton said.

The Cops in Shops program is ongoing, not just something the department does during the summer months, Sutton added.