The State College Police Department's new program designed to target underage drinking and those who provide alcohol to minors has its first case.
The Source Investigation Project (SIP) was formed in January after the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board gave the police department an $80,000 grant. Sgt. Dana Leonard said this money will help the department more thoroughly investigate those who provide alcohol to minors. In the past, Leonard said, police officers often did not have the time or money to investigate this aspect of underage drinking.
SIP's first case came on Feb. 14 when police received two calls reporting beer was being served to underage people at a party. According to a police press release, members of the SIP enforcement team obtained a search warrant based on the calls. An investigation of the incident led to one of the residents of the East Beaver Avenue apartment being charged with furnishing alcohol to minors.
Leonard said the incident was a "routine example" of the underage and dangerous drinking that State College police officers encounter.
Interfraternity Council President Andy Hackett said he supports the SIP program. He said SIP's goals are reasonable because it only targets dangerous and excessive drinking.
Paul Silber, president of Phi Delta Theta, 240 N. Burrowes Road, said he thought the new program is "scary." He said it puts pressure on fraternity members to be responsible for things beyond their control. "One sour apple at a party can ruin it for 50 brothers."
Silber said it is difficult for fraternity members to monitor who at a party is over 21 and where the alcohol being provided will eventually end up.
"When I'm handing out beer, I'm not always thinking, 'Who is this person going to hand this to?' " Silber said.
SIP is an 18-month pilot program, Leonard said. It is the first program of its kind in the state, and if it is successful in State College, it will be implemented in other areas.
A preliminary hearing for the man charged with furnishing alcohol to minors has not yet been set.
