Controlled Underage Party Dispersal

In collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office, Project Extra Mile coordinated a free Law Enforcement Training on March 20, 2024 focused on safely and effectively breaking up underage drinking parties.

The training topics included:

• Understanding the scope and consequences of underage drinking today;
• Understanding the philosophy behind controlled party dispersal;
• Identifying the steps necessary to process offenders at underage drinking parties;
• Identifying tactical approaches to responding to underage drinking parties in different environments; and
• Experiential training to practice utilizing strategies in a realistic scenario with underage youth.

Why is this Important?

For years, students across Nebraska have indicated that their primary source of alcohol is through social access. Consequently, providing training for law enforcement focused on safely breaking up underage parties is critical to ensure the safety of the youth as well as community at large. Underage drinking cannot happen without the approval or negligence of adults! A key emphasis of the training was not only to hold youth accountable for their actions, but also the adults for enabling this dangerous behavior.

The Trainers:

Retired Special Agent Nancy McGee served for more than 29 years in the Missouri Department of Public Safety—Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. As a special agent stationed in the St. Louis District specializing in alcohol enforcement, McGee was responsible for enforcing Missouri’s Liquor Control Act, administering the state’s alcohol compliance check program as well as coordinating the department’s efforts on college campuses and with community coalition groups.

Retired Sergeant Scott Friedlein was employed by the Champaign Police Department where he focused on preventing underage drinking and the associated harms for 16 years of his 26-year career. He led the charge to develop a training program for bar employees to identify potential problems and deal with issues in a safe and effective manner.