Banning's $60K Grant Will Focus On Stemming Underage Drinking

BANNING, CA — The Banning Police Department was awarded a $60,000 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to reduce alcohol-related harm in their community, they announced Wednesday.

Acting Chief of Police Derek Thesier shared his thoughts on the funding in a recent news release:

“The funding through this ABC Alcohol Policing Partnership allows the Banning Police Department to increase protection for youth and to address crime at problem locations," Thesier said.

The grant is one of nearly 48 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP) program.

These grants strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining theirs with ABC agents who have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws to help reduce alcohol-related harm within their community.

“The Alcohol Policing Partnership program can improve the quality of life in
neighborhoods,” said ABC Chief Deputy Director Joseph McCullough. “We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program’s resources have been invested.”
The APP program was created in 1995 to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. The program is designed to keep alcohol away from minors and prevent harm to the community.

The funds will be used to help prevent alcoholic beverage sales to minors and obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol, and other criminal activities such as the sale and possession of illegal drugs.