HAWTHORNE : Police Get Help Fighting Alcohol Sales to Minors

In an attempt to crack down on alcohol sales to minors, loitering and other trouble associated with bars and liquor stores, the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is giving police departments in Hawthorne, Inglewood and Gardena $200,000 to educate store owners and arrest those who break the law.

Part of the money will pay for seminars to teach liquor store and bar owners about the problems and penalties associated with selling alcohol to minors, said Jay Stroh, director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency.

Another portion will pay for sting operations designed to catch store clerks or bar owners selling beer, wine or liquor to underage patrons, said Hawthorne Police Capt. Richard Prentice.

Hawthorne and Gardena submitted a joint plan to the agency and will split $100,000. Inglewood will receive $100,000. The funding is part of Gov. Pete Wilson’s $2.4-million anti-crime program.

Many crimes associated with liquor sales--including loitering, drinking in public and disorderly conduct--are misdemeanors, and local authorities have not had the manpower to arrest and prosecute violators, Prentice said.

The funds will pay for overtime for officers who will work with state investigators, he said.

Inglewood’s funds will be used to target stores that are the city’s 10 worst offenders, said Inglewood Police Lt. Ron Wood.

“When you get a (liquor) license, you take on an added responsibility,” Wood said. “If you don’t police yourself, we’re going to police you.”