Santa Clara Police Chief Mike Sellers announced last week that the Santa Clara Police Department was awarded a $79,120 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related crime.
The grant 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.
“[This grant is] important to Santa Clara in order to increase protection for youth and to shut down problem locations that have contributed to an increase in crime,” Chief Sellers said.
The Grant Assistance Program (GAP)—created in 1995—strengthens 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 GAP 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 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 GAP has distributed over $20 million to local law enforcement to combat alcohol-related crime.