New all-terrain vehicle will help police stop under-age drinking parties

(L-r) Officer Richard Gutska, Officer Mark Granado, Chris Ryder, LauraLi Metcalf, Susan Roche, Steven Hall, Officer Michael Krynowick, Officer Steve Clement, Gina Veser, Officer Philip Thomas and Jean Haughey with the new 'Gator.' Courtesy photo.

Imagine a group of teenagers, determined to drink alcohol despite their young age, partying in the woods of Enfield. Now imagine a police cruiser trying to drive through rocky, hilly, or tree-filled terrain to stop them. Impossible? Not anymore.

With assistance from the Enfield Together Coalition, the Enfield Police Department has welcomed a new member to the force: a four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle called a “Gator.” The vehicle, available to the department through a multi-town enforcement partnership named Metro-Traffic Services, will allow the department to check off-road locations for under-age drinking parties.

“Kids in Enfield are finding creative ways to party, just like in any town,” said Prevention Coordinator Christine Turner of Enfield Together. “Before, we weren’t able to bring the police vehicles into the woods, but now we can,” she said. The Enfield Together Coalition is a group dedicated to reducing and preventing underage drinking and substance use in Enfield through awareness, education and enforcement of underage drinking laws.

Enfield Police Department Sgt. Charles Grasso said, “Teen drinking parties in the woods, or in other locations inaccessible to traditional police vehicles, have been an issue for a number of years.”

The issue was identified during a meeting of the Underage Drinking Task Force, when Enfield Together queried the police as to how to they could help them be more successful, and the police brought up the difficulties of curbing drinking in remote areas.

On average, Grasso estimated that two to three dozen parties a year occur in town in remote locations, with each party ranging in size from 20 to 100 teens. Now with the Gator, the EPD will be able to access these gatherings. Grasso said the department plans to have half a dozen officers trained to use the vehicle to patrol the off-road areas.

“This is an invaluable tool for the Enfield police,” said Grasso. “The department will be able to access a number of locations, including heavily-wooded areas and sandpits,” Grasso said.

According to Grasso, “Targeting teen drinking in Enfield is a great team effort between the Enfield Together Coalition, Enfield Youth Services and the Enfield Police Department,” which will now be aided with the new Gator.

Enfield Police Department Party Patrol operations are planned and funded in partnership with the Enfield Together Coalition and the Town of Enfield Youth Services Partnership for Success Grant.

The vehicle, as it is shared with several other towns, will be housed at the South Windsor Police Department, but Enfield can access it any time they need it.

“It’s another tool in our toolbox that will allow us to attack the problem of underage drinking at all levels,” said Grasso.