Calling police at underage drinking parties

[SoCalHye]

I'm an 18 year old living in the Greater Los Angeles Area (and this is my first post). Unlike all the other youth around here, I'm a law enforcement supporter which probably comes from my very conservative beliefs. Anyways, I go to a lot of parties and see things that really makes me wonder how these future generations are going to turn out. Things like underage drinking (we're talking teens as young as 15 or even 14), lots of drugs (marijuana and sometimes hard drugs), and just kids doing stupid things. I really wanna help these kids out but however hard I try, they just don't stop. I'm usually at these parties taking care of people who have had too much to drink (throwing up everywhere) and making sure everyone has a designated driver or a safe way of going home. I even take people's keys away by force if they are obviously drunk and are about to drive 5 other people home. I'd like police to help me keep these kids from continuing to do things like this and living very unproductive lives (by shutting down wild parties, issuing citations, notifying parents, etc.), which brings me to my question: if I'm a party-goer, can I call the respective police departments (I have most LA County PD's phone numbers saved on my phone) and tell them what's going on (underage drinking, random people outside selling crack, kids taking X, etc.) and tell them to come and shut it down? Or would I have to be a neighbor or something?

Most of the time I see these parties with police showing up around 11pm, not able to do anything because either (a) some people get smart and ask the police for a warrant which they have a right to or (b) the police just fail at dispersing everyone. Most of the time, it takes 3-4 police visits for the party to actually get shut down (the last visit being the police actually show up with a warrant so they could go inside, confiscate all the alcohol, drugs, etc and shut the party down). Is there any way I can help police departments so they have the proper information/proof so they could shut it down early. Perhaps e-mailing them pictures of people selling drugs from my phone?

Thanks.

[StudChris]

You being at a party where there is underage drinking and drug use makes you just as guilty (in the eyes of the law). Just don't go.

[Woofdog]

I agree. Stay away from those gatherings. Much as you'll try, they probably won't listen to you if you try to get them to do the right thing, and call you a square.

Sooner or later, most of them will get caught and their actions will come back to haunt them.

Don't be one of them.

[catch um and ba]

Ya its better to be safe than sorry. Don't go.

[PhilipCal]

I agree with the advice previously given. I have a problem understanding why you continue to attend these parties, knowing full well the nature of what's taking place. Please don't misunderstand me. Your motives/intentions are great, but as you're beginning to discover, arguably ineffective. There's a real and present danger that the Police could show up at one of these gatherings, and you end up being cited/jailed with the rest of the crew. I can't address the specific concern of police response in your area. In a very general sense, I can tell you that it's not the Police's job to do what parents are supposed to be doing. You might want to re-think your attending these gatherings. In short, you're beating a dead horse.

[MaineSqueeze]

If one of the party goers found out you were the one that called the police, just be prepared for a beatdown. Sometimes cops slip up and reveal who called. You have great intentions, dont get me wrong, but there is a heavy price to pay if youre caught being a rat. Just stay away and get better friends.

[Cyber_Saint]

If there are drugs present you shouldn't be there. Alcohol...I won't get high and mighty because I did my fair share of underage drinking also. Just be smart. As far as calling the police to help teach these kids a lesson, fon't bother. If someone wants to drink underage or do drugs they are going to find a way to do so. You're doing more of a disservice to yourself for even being there and in that kind of situation than you are benefiting them by calling the police.

[Tex4720]

SoCal, save yourself first. If a party gets raided you are very likely to take the ride too. I love your sense of being the quazi-protector over your friends by getting them home safe, but in the end you may lose. You didn’t state that you wanted to be a cop in the future, but you sound like a cop in the making. And here is the issue: When it comes time to apply how many dope parties are you going to have to admit to attending? And how will you answer the question; ‘did you leave as soon as you realized illegal narcotics were being used at the parties?’

If you keep up what you are doing answering these questions honestly will make you less desirable to any department because they will believe you lack seriously in your moral decision making. And they would be right! Make the right decisions now for your future, whether or not you want to be a cop, and stay away from people that are openly using illegal narcotics.

This will probably keep you from being the cool guy right now, but being the cool guy for the rest of your life is much more important.

[SoCalHye]

Thank you for all the responses. I never thought I would get in trouble for only being there, not drunk or high or doing anything illegal. Are there laws that if you are on location where there is underage drinking taking place, you are guilty of a crime? What crime would that be?

I would also like to share what happened tonight. Once again, I was at a party (no narcotics) where, unfortunately, I saw underage people drinking and the party hosts offering underage people alcohol. Luckily, the jurisdiction I was in has a completely anonymous tip line where you text message them a tip and they communicate back if they are going to send out a unit. That is what I did. I stayed completely anonymous. About 45 minutes later they were able to come and shut it down (I had also mentioned in the anonymous tip that there is "possible underage drinking"). I wish all the departments around here had the option to anonymously text message them "tips."

[PhilipCal]

Thank you for all the responses. I never thought I would get in trouble for only being there, not drunk or high or doing anything illegal. Are there laws that if you are on location where there is underage drinking taking place, you are guilty of a crime? What crime would that be?

I would also like to share what happened tonight. Once again, I was at a party (no narcotics) where, unfortunately, I saw underage people drinking and the party hosts offering underage people alcohol. Luckily, the jurisdiction I was in has a completely anonymous tip line where you text message them a tip and they communicate back if they are going to send out a unit. That is what I did. I stayed completely anonymous. About 45 minutes later they were able to come and shut it down (I had also mentioned in the anonymous tip that there is "possible underage drinking"). I wish all the departments around here had the option to anonymously text message them "tips."

Okay, you asked a question. From what I can tell, the unanimous response has been you should refrain from going to the parties. You have emphasized that there were no narcotics involved. How do you know for sure? You can question the fine points of law all you want. You can also keep on attending these gatherings with all the good intentions in the world.Sooner or later, you're going to be in the back seat of a patrol car, or going home with a "Notice to Appear" in your hand. Your call.

[Michigan]

yup, stay home.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Don't go to all those parties. Time to leave all that crap behind you. Here, you'd be arrested for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. As the 18 year old "adult", you could also be charged with Minor in Possession of Alcohol as well as Possession of the drugs/narcotics at the house.

None of those are good things to have on your record.

Stay the hell away.

[SoCalHye]

Don't go to all those parties. Time to leave all that crap behind you. Here, you'd be arrested for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. As the 18 year old "adult", you could also be charged with Minor in Possession of Alcohol as well as Possession of the drugs/narcotics at the house.

None of those are good things to have on your record.

Stay the hell away.

And with that in mind, I'll stay away from parties that get too wild. :)

Tex4720, I'd love to become a cop but I have other plans in my life. I'm going to USC next year to get a degree in Business (I'm 2 years ahead of everyone else, graduated high school at 16) and will be pursuing my plans in the business world. But, I am always willing to work in part-time non-sworn positions and the local departments so I'm going to be looking into that. I'd want to be a reserve officer or dispatcher or what I'd really like to be: an informant. Never seen a job opportunity on any department web site for an "informant" given the sensitivity of the position, but I'm sure if I get familiar with local departments with other positions, I'll have that opportunity.

[Tex4720]

To be a good informant you have to know the real bad guys. Which means you have to be a bad guy yourself normally. Most informants know information because they are part of it and need a get out of jail free card for something they got caught doing. You don't wan't to be that guy.

What kind of business are you thinking about?

[SoCalHye]

To be a good informant you have to know the real bad guys. Which means you have to be a bad guy yourself normally. Most informants know information because they are part of it and need a get out of jail free card for something they got caught doing. You don't wan't to be that guy.

What kind of business are you thinking about?

Think we might be getting off topic which might be against the rules (?) so sorry about that.

I'm planning becoming an entrepreneur in marketing with focus on internet/viral marketing and also in the entertainment industry. I've already worked on a few high-budget music video shoots.

I think I might look into dispatcher positions (a neighboring city's department is in dire need of dispatchers that speak a foreign language which I am fluent in) and reserve/community volunteer police when I turn 21.

Until then, I'll continue reporting any crimes I see to the police. I am very vigilant and report everything I see when I'm driving around my city. I average one call to police per week and 90% of the time it results in citations being issued and sometimes people getting arrested. Most of the calls are suspicious vehicles driving around my neighborhood, suspicious people hanging around my house (we have cameras so I was able to get their faces which helped them arrest them a month later and charged them with like 5 burglaries), or people vandalizing public property.

I will stop attending these types of parties. And, if I see things getting out of hand (underage drinking, drug use, etc.), I will leave. What about calling the police AFTER I leave reporting on what started happening at the party?

[Sgt. Slaughter]

It's your call (no pun intended.) You should know which people attend what kind of parties. If you always leave and the cops show up shortly thereafter, even coked out juveniles will put 2 and 2 together.

[SoCalHye]

if you really have that much of a desire to get these things busted, then go to your state's alcohol law enforcement agency and volunteer to work as a spotter or something for them. Personally I would say just remove yourself from that scene and don't go if you don't like it.

I don't think my state has an agency just for alcohol enforcement (California). What does a "spotter" do?

[Red Swan]

I would also advise u stay away from the party, I did when I was under 21 once I planned on being a officer at age of about 18. U have one drink there and the Cops come rolling up u are looking at getting a "minor in consumption or possession of alcohol", same thing here, all u have to do is have alcohol in ur possession, it is same as drinking it according to our state law.

and on several occasions here when the "minors" take off running a few get caught on foot, and then also have another charge... fleeing

Here usually don't make an effort to "break UP PARTYS" unless get complaints and they are raising hell, and at some partys we have busted up we have had officers assaulted and windows broken out on squad cars cause the crowd throws beer bottles and whatever else they find handy to chuck.. but that's what pepper spray canisters, and tear gas nades are for:rolleyes://