Full Notification

The Novato Police Department has been awarded a $32,312 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related crime.

“This is important to the City of Novato in order to increase protection for youth and to shut down problem locations that have contributed to an increase in crime,” said Sergeant Chris Andres, the Novato Police Department's Project Director.

The grant is one of 52 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program (APP).

The grants strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining the efforts of local police officers and ABC agents. ABC agents have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws and can help communities reduce alcohol-related problems.

“The program improves the quality of life in neighborhoods,” said ABC Director Jacob Applesmith. “We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program resources have been invested.”

The Alcohol Policing Partnership Program was created in 1995 to strengthen partnerships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. The program is designed to put bad operators out of business, keep alcohol away from minors and bring penalties such as fines, suspensions or revocations against businesses that violate the law.

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

The APP Program has distributed over $20 million to local law enforcement to combat alcohol-related crime.

ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

Released by: Sgt. Chris Andres (8/16/2019).