University asked state police to target their students.

[madmax]

What do you think of this sitution? The school contacted the state police and asked them to target their own students.



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Bureau cracks down on underage drinking
By Gina Zotti and Jessica McRorie, Staff Writers

WEST CHESTER -- The state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement and
borough police showed their presence this past week as 100 citations
were written for underage drinking.

"We have been there before. We were there this past weekend and we
will be there again," said LCE District Office Commander Sgt. John R.
Comerer.

He explained that each district office has been assigned to a
university. WCU asked to be the university this district office
focused on this year, Comerer said.

"Last weekend was great results. We had a couple of big bashes," he
said. "We cooled it for Friday but then snuck up again on Saturday."

Two larger parties were broken up overnight Saturday.

Criminal charges are pending for a 22-year-old West Chester student
for sale without a license as well as citations handed out to 24
minors at the Sunday 400 block of South Walnut Street apartment party.

Another party in the unit block of Price Street was also broken up
Saturday overnight when 15 more minors were given citations for
underage drinking and two kegs were seized by the LCE.

Those citations added to 56 handed out two days earlier at a
fraternity party in the 700 block of South Walnut Street that hosted
more than 100 guests.

Charges are also pending for the operation of a speakeasy, as the
fraternity party last week was a "pay-your-way" event, police said.

At least 71 of those cited between April 2 and April 6 were West
Chester University students, police said.

"We have an alliance with West Chester University," Comerer
explained. "Each year this is a college where we focus on underage
drinking ..West Chester made their pitch the last two years."

The Philadelphia district office, which is a part of state police,
covers Delaware and Chester counties. Comerer said the office has
been present all year, but had not handed out a significant number of
citations until the past week.

But with the warmer weather bringing underage drinkers outside, LCE
members had their eyes on the borough for the weekend in efforts to
use the money in a budget that needs to be spent before the school
year ends, he said.

"Are we targeting? They signed up to be a part of the alliance," Comerer said.

"Through our experience and information, we strategically plan when
we're doing certain things," West Chester Police Sgt. Dan Dixon said.
"We understand with the warmer weather, there will be more activity
outside."

He said the LCE is another enforcement agency the borough police work
in cooperation with on a regular basis.

Dixon said with the increase of vigilant officers, other crimes have
decreased including vandalism, assaults and thefts.

The large parties also worry police when opportunities for injury are present.

One female either fell or jumped out of a second-story window during
the Saturday night bust on Walnut Street, reports said.

"Not that it happens in every case, but if it happens one time and an
individual severely injures themselves or loses a life, it's not
worth it," Dixon said.

Police said that mattresses were put in front of exits, windows were
covered and smoke detectors were disconnected at the party at the
fraternity house last week.

"It had all the ingredients for a catastrophe," he said.

"Suppose there was a fire there. What a disaster that could have
been," said Mayor Richard B. Yoder, calling the fraternity house
"downright dangerous."

He said he had mixed emotions about the activity of the weekend.

"My initial reaction was one of disappointment," he said, noting that
he and the college had put in a lot of effort into communicating with
students about underage drinking and consequences that would faced
under Operation Vigilance.

The program calls for maximum enforcement of state fines, including
the loss of a driver's license as opposed to previous consequences
such as community service.

"Breaks with punishment or charges is sending the wrong message or
not getting the point across at all," Dixon said. Students know what
the penalties are and that they are not negotiable, he said. "This is
the line we've drawn."

He commended the university for attacking the situation from several
aspects, not only in educational programs, but in enforcing its
judicial code.

"The goal is to continue the education level so that the enforcement
level will significantly decrease because of the behavioral changes,"
Dixon said.

To the police and Yoder, a large number of citations does not equal success.

"To have over 100 young people arrested for underage drinking is
disturbing," Yoder said.

"We're not score keeping. It's not a game," said West Chester Police
Chief Scott Bohn. "We measure success by the absence of event."

Brian Cole, of the 300 block of South Walnut Street, said things have
gotten better in general over the past year.

"I think it has. I think the kids kind of know they have to be
careful," said Cole.

"It has gotten quieter," he said.

He said there is still the occasional beer bottle found in his front
yard. Recently, there was a screaming fight that took place in front
of his home but the police came and quickly broke it up.

The area is never going to be perfect, he said. But he is glad to see
that the mayor is following Operation Vigilance through.

Lea Asher, of the 200 block of Matlack Street, moved from California
to the borough in July. She has not noticed a change in the students'
behaviors since then.

Students consistently cut through her yard and take items from her
yard and porch, she said.

"They steal everything that is not bolted down," she said.

She installed a motion detector but it doesn't seem to deter them, she said.

"I just hate them all because of a few," she said.