How does the city of tempe spell revenue $BOOZE$ : AZ IMC

University, Tempe police targeting young drinkers
Officers claim alcohol brings host of crimes

Katie Nelson
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 15, 2005 12:00 AM

TEMPE - City and Arizona State University police are cracking down on underage drinking, especially motivated after the alcohol-related death of a freshman before the start of the spring semester.

Plainclothes officers have been circling through Tempe's apartment complexes, ASU's "Greek row" and nearby bar districts, and they're nabbing underage drinkers in droves. A small squad of Tempe officers arrested more than 100 during two recent weekends.

Most were caught near the bars on Eighth Street and in large apartment complexes near campus. Police don't target places just because of the drinking, said Tempe Sgt. James Click, who led recent plainclothes patrols.

"We go out there because of all the other crimes that spawn from drinking," he said. "Fights, drunk-driving accidents, home invasions, rapes almost always blossom from alcohol-related activity."

Police presence also is high in and around dorms for similar reasons. ASU Department of Public Safety officers used to come to the dorms only for prevention presentations or when called. This year, they are much more involved.

Officers are now assigned to each dorm. And for the first time, police aides are being stationed at five of the residence halls on weekend nights to increase police presence, officials said.

"The death last year caught the school by surprise," said Stuart Adams, who coordinates ASU and DPS crime prevention efforts. According to police reports, the student died after downing shot after shot of vodka.

"We can't let it happen again," Adams said. "We need to get the message out right away (that) our res halls are dry."

ASU bans alcohol in school residence halls.

Partiers may have run-ins with police off campus. Tempe Police's Party Patrol is out warning party-givers about the city's Loud-Party Ordinance. It applies to anyone hosting a private party - whether it's a family gathering or a legal-age kegger.

The first time someone gets caught, it means a warning. The second time, they could get hit with a bill of as much as $1,000. Over the last three weekends, more than 150 party citations were issued, police said. They will continue with the party-specific patrols for the rest of the school year.

"You have to feel bad for people actually trying to work or study or do something besides party," said Officer Stan Archer, who drove around handling noise complaints as part of a recent party patrol. "There's no way they can with all the racket these parties make unless they are totally oblivious to the outside world."

Drunken drivers are also being watched. A task force made up of officers from throughout the Valley has been making stops in Tempe. On a recent night, 43 officers from Scottsdale, Peoria, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Mesa and Phoenix joined Tempe police in going after drunken drivers. On a Friday night alone they arrested 90 people in Tempe.

The crackdown will continue throughout the school year.