Politics & Government

Dover Police Chief McGowan Attends Underage Drinking Prevention Conference

Dover Police Chief Peter McGowan, School Resource Officer Ryan Menice, SPAN-DS Chairperson Bev Madden and SADD advisor Kelly Sullivan, all from Dover, attended the Underage Drinking Prevention Conference hosted by Norfolk County DA Michael Morrissey.

District Attorney Michael Morrissey hosted more than 150 educators and police from across Norfolk County, including four from Dover, at an all-day conference providing strategies to prevent and address underage drinking and other dangerous behavior.

“The time to address underage drinking is before it comes into court as an alcohol-fueled assault, or the car crash that takes a life or causes permanent injury,” said District Attorney Morrissey.

Seminars provided strategies for the “High-Risk Season” -- proms and graduations -- Law Enforcement Perspectives on House Parties, the emerging Recovery High School model with insights gained from that population and “Promoting and Supporting Non-Users in Your School.”

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“We tried to have topics that would appeal to, and hopefully help, each of the different groups attending,” District Attorney Morrissey said.            

Police Chief Peter McGowan, School Resource Officer Ryan Menice, SPAN-DS Chairperson Bev Madden and SADD advisor Kelly Sullivan attended from Dover.

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The event, which drew from 23 Norfolk County communities, was also meant to strengthen collaboration among schools, communities, court officials, local law enforcement authorities and social service providers, Morrissey said.

Featured speakers included Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, Secretary of Public Safety and Security, who emphasized the importance of working together to confront this issue, and underscored her agency’s commitment to the cause.

The Honorable Paul C. Dawley, Regional Administrative Justice for the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, identified some of the substance abuse challenges facing our communities, and outlined how the judiciary has tried to respond.           

Participating organizations included the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Caron Treatment Center, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the American Automobile Association (A.A.A.), the Safe Roads Alliance, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (M.I.A.A.), the Southeast Center for Healthy Communities, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (A.B.C.C.).            

The keynote speaker was Professor Michael Siegel, M.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. 

Dr. Siegel used televised advertisements to illustrate the strategic marketing of alcohol to teens, and called for greater accountability for companies that produce and market alcohol. The event was funded by a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and held at the Lake Pearl Luciano’s conference facility in Wrentham.


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