Timothy B. Howard, Sheriff of Erie County. Sheriff Timothy B. Howard 37 year career in law...
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Transcript of Timothy B. Howard, Sheriff of Erie County. Sheriff Timothy B. Howard 37 year career in law...
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