The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Stand Strong Coalition are proud to announce a new initiative to assist in curbing of parties where underage drinking and drug use is taking place.
Stand Strong Coalition purchased a four-year membership to tip411 where members of the community can anonymously send a message if they have information of a situation where underage drinking or drug use is taking place. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is taking the lead in monitoring any submitted tips.
When the incident is occurring in the jurisdiction of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s Deputies will be dispatched to investigate. When the incident is occurring within municipal boundaries, Lake County Sheriff’s Telecommunicators will pass the information along to the proper dispatch center, so the proper local police department can take appropriate action.
Providing alcohol or drugs to underage people is illegal and dangerous. Additionally, parents can be held criminally and civilly liable for allowing their property (or a hotel room, rented limo, bus, boat, or vehicle) to be used for underage consumption of alcohol.
It is hoped this initiative will discourage parents from allowing underage drinking and drug use to take place, while reducing the number of youth partaking in these behaviors. Stand Strong Coalition and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office want youth to enjoy themselves without becoming a victim of the consequences associated with alcohol/drug abuse.
Stand Strong Coalition Executive Director Jamie Epstein said, “As a parent in the community and the Executive Director of Stand Strong Coalition, parents and students tell me all of the time that they know where underage drinking is occurring, and they worry for the youth involved. However, they have not found a way to share their tips with police in a way that feels comfortable to them. We are pleased to partner with the Lake County Sheriff's Office to offer parents and youth this tool to do the right thing when they know of illegal and unsafe activity. Tip411 will help keep our communities safer for teens and I thank the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for collaborating to make this all possible.”
Sheriff John Idleburg said, “Alcohol and drug use impair one’s ability to make decisions. This is true in adults, but especially true in adolescents and young adults. Statistics show us, underage drinking and drug use leads to higher rates of sexual assault, a higher likelihood of being involved in a fatal or serious traffic crash, as well as other negative consequences. We hope this new partnership with Stand Strong Coalition assists us in getting involved before a tragedy occurs.”
Anyone wishing to anonymously report a party where underage alcohol consumption and/or drug use is taking place can send a text message to:
847-411
The body of the text message should start with 123TIP, then the tipster can write anything they wish. We encourage tipsters to put as much helpful information as possible. Adults and youth are able to send tips utilizing tip411.
More information about Stand Strong Coalition can be found here: https://www.standstrongcoalition.org/