Access to Tobacco: Starting a New Enforcement Program in Your Police Department Corporal Kelly Gordon Montebello Police Department

Overview of Topics Overview of the Montebello Police Department’s Program Establishing Relationships Motivating and Educating Officers Operational Guidelines for a Youth Decoy Operation

Montebello Police Department’s Program Grant awarded by the California Department of Health Services Tobacco Control Section Funded by the Master Settlement Agreement 16 Agencies in California were awarded an enforcement grant 33 month program and $250,000 in funding Enforcement of: –Penal Code Section 308(a) Selling Tobacco Products to Minors –Labor Code Section Smoke-Free Workplace

Establishing Relationships Who: –Prosecuting Agencies District Attorney City Attorney –Local Health Department –Local Coalitions –Police Department

Establishing Relationships Prosecuting Agencies –BE EDUCATED –Prepare a professional presentation (power point) –Have a handout with the facts –To the point –Consult with before you start enforcement –Don’t preach about how bad tobacco is, focus on the law

Establishing Relationships Local Health Department –Ask about Master Settlement Agreement Money for enforcement –Ally –Resource Youth recruitment Data collection Educational materials Incentives (pens, t-shirts, etc)

Establishing Relationships Local Coalitions –Ally –Want to be involved –Politically active –Youth recruitment

Establishing Relationships Police Departments –Respect their time –Keep material short and to the point –Credibility a must (don’t guess at answers) –Tobacco control laws are not top priority but are highly visible –Public Recognition –Talk to the right person (chain of command)

Motivating and Educating Officers Make it fun Keep it simple Don’t overwhelm with extra paperwork Overtime Don’t preach to officers Feed them

Youth Decoy Operations Planning the Operation –Coordinate with the D.A. –Recruitment of Personnel Adult Chaperones Youth Volunteers Officers –Merchant Education –Working with the media (press releases)

Youth Decoy Operations Planning the Operation (con’t) –Operational Mission –Date and time –Personnel assignments and responsibilities –Selecting and assigning locations –Communications –Operation Briefing –Forms and Materials used

Youth Decoy Operations Planning the Operation (con’t) –Safety Issues –Volunteer Recognition –Recognizing Businesses in Compliance –Record Keeping –Filing cases and follow up

Most Important Focus Use your resources, help is out there, use it Educate Retailers & Public Work in partnership with the district attorney Take the time to do presentations Follow up with Enforcement Have Fun and Be Safe

Contact Information Corporal Kelly Gordon Montebello Police Department 1600 W. Beverly Blvd. Montebello, CA (323) Office (323) Fax (323) Cell