ANCHORAGE-During the last two weeks of December, 2011, the Anchorage Police Department Community Action Policing Team responded to reports of frequent alcohol violations in local bars by conducting undercover operations in cooperation with the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. These reports came from citizens as well as APD Swing Shift and Mid Shift officers that overserving was creating public safety problems. Citations were issued to 19 drunken (highly intoxicated) patrons who were found on the premises under AS. 04.16.040.

The second part of the investigation focused on the employees in the liquor establishments who were either furnishing alcohol to patrons [AS 04.16.030 (1)] or allowing patrons to remain on the premises [AS 04.16.030 (3)], who were showing obvious signs of drunkenness. Employees who serve alcohol are required by state law [AS 04.21.025 (c)] to complete an alcohol server education course that includes the study of the state law related to the service of alcohol.

Of the 26 bars that were checked by the CAP Team, 5 employees from 4 drinking establishments were found to be out of compliance. The following 4 employees have been cited:

12/16/11 Anthony Warney – Panhandle Bar – Providing Alcohol to a Drunken Person

12/16/11 Ry Walker – Panhandle Bar – Allowing a Drunken Person to Remain on Premises

12/18/11 Dana Koontz – Platinum Jaxx – Providing Alcohol to a Drunken Person

12/14/11 Tina Rivers – Polar Bar – Providing Alcohol to a Drunken Person

An additional citation will be issued to an employee of the Gaslight lounge for Allowing a Drunken Person to Remain on Premises on 12/31/11. That employee has not been located for the issuance of the citation.

The focus of this continuing operation is the reduction of crimes related to the abuse of alcohol. Violent crimes including sexual assault, assaults or DUIs that result in vehicular collisions often start with alcohol abuse. Anchorage Police Department has set a goal reducing the number of sexual assaults in 2012 and of “O for 12,” – No DUI related traffic deaths this year. In these efforts, we are committed to working with residents, other agencies, community groups, community councils and legislators to make Anchorage a safer city. Ensuring compliance by licensees and their employees in the alcohol industry is only one part of this strategy.

CAP Team members were encouraged to find that the majority of the bars they checked were complying with state alcohol laws. 20 of the 26 establishments were in full compliance. They observed responsible service by the employees of those bars including refusal to allow the entrance of obviously intoxicated persons, the cutting off alcohol service to persons who were reaching their personal limits, and the removal of persons from the bar of persons whose behavior was becoming problematic. Responsible bar personnel also assured that their patrons had a safe ride home in taxis or with friends.

The Anchorage Police Department CAP Team will be continuing its efforts to reduce alcohol related crime through continued bar checks and undercover operations. Their objective is to raise the standard of all licensed alcohol serving establishments to achieve total compliance with state law.

During their alcohol compliance operations, the CAP Team took additional enforcement actions. Those actions included: the arrest of 5 participants in a fight outside a bar, one of whom assaulted a police officer; 4 minors consuming alcohol; 2 persons using false identification; and 1 DWI.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing. All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty by a court of law.

Source: Anchorage Police Department