Who We Are - Overview

28 February 2001
Operation Safeguard II
Alcohol Present in 61 Young Deaths: "The Party is Over"
Two-Month Spring Break Operation Cracks Down on Parties, Adult Providers and Underage Drinkers

What:
Kick-off rally for two-month Operation Safeguard II with over 10 law enforcement agencies from throughout San Diego County. Operation Safeguard II includes DUI checkpoints, shoulder tap and decoy operations, compliance checks, keg registration enforcement and home party dispersal over high school and college Spring Break period.

Why:

	Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among youth.
	Half of all teen suicides and rapes involve alcohol.
	Over the last two years, 61 people under 21 in San Diego County had alcohol in their system at the time of death.

When:
Thursday, March 1, 2001, 3:30 PM

Where:
San Diego Police Headquarters, 1401 Broadway, (Downtown)

Who:
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender is joined by San Diego Chief of Police David Bejarano, Chula Vista Police Chief Rick Emerson, and representatives from over 10 other law enforcement agencies from throughout the county, including, El Cajon, La Mesa, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, and National City. Also present will be community collaboratives, public health and elected officials, parents and students.

Visuals:
Students and community representatives with signs supporting increased law enforcement; officers in uniform.

Spokespersons:
Francisco and Joana Isais: Son and brother died because of underage drinking
Bill Kolender, Sheriff, San Diego County (858) 974-2240
David Bejarano, Police Chief, San Diego Police Department (619) 531-2777
Rick Emerson, President, San Diego County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs’ Association (619) 691-5158
Joan Stein, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (619) 531-3529
Bill McClurg, Captain, El Cajon Police Department, (619) 579-3354
Vince Jimno, Law Enforcement Task Force on Underage Drinking (760) 728-6164
Dr. Shawn Evans, Emergency Department, Scripps Mercy Hospital (858) 678-6894
Lorenzo Higley, Preventionist, Communities Against Substance Abuse (619) 442-2727 ext. 113
Teddye Gentry, South Bay Partnership (619) 691-8164
Smita Toor and Karla Ruiz, Youth Leadership Council
Tony Dixon, Students Together Against Alcohol ’n Drugs (STAAND)