In partnership with the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, Project Extra Mile held a half-day training for law enforcement officers focused on preventing and responding to underage drinking parties in addition to implementing a controlled dispersal plan to minimize the potential for alcohol-related injuries and fatalities. The trainings were held on April 26, 27 and 29 in Omaha, Grand Island and Scottsbluff respectively. R.J. Elrick, trainer with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, conducted the trainings. As the former director of the Vermont Police Academy, R.J. has had extensive background in training the enforcement of underage drinking laws.
Outside the classroom, an experiential learning activity was conducted where officers participated in processing a large "mock" underage drinking party with high school and college students.
Participants had the opportunity to:
- Identify techniques to safely and effectively respond to large underage drinking parties.
- Develop skills to determine the source of alcohol for youth.
- Gain knowledge about the use of social networking sites to help identify and prevent underage alcohol use.
- Recognize opportunities for involving civilians as volunteers in collaborative enforcement efforts.