Timothy B. Howard, Sheriff of Erie County

Sheriff Timothy B. Howard 37 year career in law enforcement

24 years with the New York State Police8 years as the Undersheriff of Erie County

Family of Law Enforcement Since becoming Sheriff, I’ve had a passion

for preventing underage drinkingEarly adopter of law enforcement-driven

environmental prevention in NYS

History of ECSO Prevention 1981 – Creation of Sheriff’s Public

Awareness is Prevention ProgramInitial focus on school-based drug education

○ K-9 Drug Education, Assembly Programs, Drug Displays, one-time programs

1980sHeightened Alcohol Enforcement

○ Alcohol server training○ First DWI patrols

History of ECSO Prevention 1980’s and 1990’s

Development of Community CoalitionsMove towards science-based, school-based

drug education○ Project Alert, LST, Botvin

Late 1990sState-directed focus on Underage Drinking

○ Not A Minor Problem CampaignBranding alcohol as a “drug”Began to use mass media

Aim to change norms about underage drinking

Law Enforcement in Prevention

Availability

RegulationsNorms

ALL YOUTH

Unique Position of Law Enforcement• Can act on all three strategies

o Regulations/Laws/Policies• e.g. enforcement of social host laws

o Availability• e.g. server trainings

o Norms• Mass media, parent

forums

Multi-part Public Awareness Campaign for the New Millennium 2006 – ECSO transitioned from school-

based to environmental prevention strategies

In collaboration with the Center for Health & Social Research at Buffalo State College:Used a data-driven approach to target the

highest risk areas within the ECSO patrol districts ○ Southern Erie County

Multi-part Public Awareness Campaign for the New Millennium Recruitment of coalition members/community

partnersLetter-mailings, newspaper articles, local media

adsKey Informant Interviews to identify the specific

community problems and nuancesCommunity buy-in from schools, local

businesses, parents, churches, and local government

Multi-part Public Awareness Campaign for the New Millennium Over the past 3 years, the ECSO has

fostered a relationship with three independent coalitionsCollaborate with each other and with ECSO on

coordinated prevention activities

Established working relationship with area schools and business

Six effective mass media campaigns

Mass Media

Law Enforcement has a special relationship with media outletsA natural mix through the years

ECSO Underage Drinking Media CampaignUse of mass media

○ Changing community normsEffective use of funds to reach maximum target

audience○ i.e. “biggest bang for the buck”

Mass Media

Posters, PostcardsDistributed to EVERY Middle and High School in

Erie CountyExamples in your folders

Table Tents Underage Drinking MessageDistributed to every licensed liquor establishment

in the County

Mass Media

BillboardsTarget a specific audience for a specific timeCollaboration with other prevention agencies

Mass Media

National CineMedia In-Theatre AdsLarge, diverse target audienceWide geographic reachCost-effective

Campaigns – Responsible Choices Tipline

Statewide collaboration with Genesee County Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Serve Kids, Serve Time Choose Your Ride Underage Drinking Could Cost You

Campaigns – Responsible Choices Prom and Graduation

Heightened Awareness and Patrols

Red Ribbon Week Red Ribbon Baseball Game First Night / Drug-Free Tree Working with Treatment

Kids Escaping DrugsMental Health

Role of Law Enforcement – Norms and Policies Access for illegal underage sales Hosting issues

Target norms supporting providing alcohol to youth (sales/hosting)

Collaboration with parents, schools, prevention agenciesPx2010 is THE collaboration in Erie County

Encourage parent forumsChanging social norms

Parent Forums

Strong support for Parent Drug Awareness Forums Would like to see these adopted across the

CountyEffective tool for law enforcement to partner with

prevention agencies and school districts○ ECSO-funded literature materials for parent forums

Reduction in state funding for school resource officers ○ Law enforcement linkages will be important for

schools in the future

Message for Parent Forums