Making Orofino A Safer Place To Be
CSAW (Clearwater Substance Abuse Workgroup) focuses on bringing information and prevention to the Clearwater Valley. CSAW community spotlight this month is the Orofino Police Department.
Using the Clearwater County Fair and Lumberjack days as a kickoff, the Orofino Police Department began zero tolerance for open container violations (Orofino City Ordinance 6-1-50). This means that every person contacted in the City Limits of Orofino that had an open container of alcohol on a public street or sidewalk was and will be at least cited for the misdemeanor offense.
In the past years, officers issued warnings to most people with open alcohol containers in the downtown area, pushing them back into the bars or establishments where they were consuming. The calls for service for law enforcement regarding alcohol related calls escalated. The thought behind using zero tolerance was to try and minimize those calls for service.
Prior to the fair weekend Orofino Police Chief Jeff Wilson met with the local businesses whose main source of sales is alcohol. During the meeting held in his office the topics of service, problem patrons, and open containers on the sidewalks in front of, and behind the businesses were discussed. The owners or employees present were very receptive of the new stance being taken and requested fliers be made stating the ordinance in very plain terms, so they could hang them at the doors of the businesses. Each establishment was given at least two fliers to post and did in fact follow through with those postings.
Zero tolerance proved to be extremely effective and is ongoing by the Police Department. Below are the statistics for the comparison of Lumberjack Days 2008 and 2009 for the Orofino Police Department on alcohol related calls for service:
2008
DUI-3 (one being a minor)
Disorderly Conduct -5
Fights – 2 (arrests made on both)
Malicious injury to property – 1 (arrest made)
Minor in possession of alcohol – 3 (all cited)
Theft – 1 (cited)
2009
Open Container – 8 (all cited)
Verbal Altercation – 1 (warning)
Fight – 1 (cited)
