Raid This Afternoon is Only a Test

North Bay police officers will be raiding a simulated teen drinking party in Petaluma this afternoon.

The 2:30-3:45 p.m. raid at the mock drinking party at the Petaluma Community Center is a drill for 30 police officers from Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties who will practice crowd control and dispersal techniques.

Dozens of teens have volunteered to participate in the drill.

Police will practice monitoring exits to make sure no intoxicated teens leave the party, announcing their presence and presenting themselves in a non-threatening way so teens don't flee, and providing medical attention when needed, said Gary Najarian, an alcohol and drug prevention coordinator with the Marin County Health and Human Services Department.

Officers will also focus on preserving evidence of any drug use or sexual assaults that might have occurred at the party, said Kerry Mensior, a member of the San Diego Police Department and trainer for the national Maryland-based Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center.

Teen drinking parties have the potential to result in crimes that go beyond alcohol consumption, Mensior pointed out.

Najarian said one goal of the training is to shift the focus from the teen drinkers to the adults or older siblings who will be held accountable for hosting the party and providing the alcohol.

Some cities in the North Bay and elsewhere have enacted social host ordinances that hold accountable anyone who hosts a gathering where minors drink or possess alcohol, whether an adult is present or not.

The ordinances often involve fines and cost recovery fees that reimburse law enforcement agencies that respond to the parties.