PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend High School students considering drinking alcoholic beverages before the homecoming dance Oct. 27 are being warned to think twice.
And two people in blue will be there to back up the warnings.
Principal Carrie Ehrhardt has hired two Port Townsend police officers to stand guard at the on-campus dance that runs from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The officers will be equipped with Breathalyzers to test for alcohol consumption.
“If a student is found to be under the influence at this dance, they will be arrested by the Port Townsend Police Department,” Ehrhardt said.
Having police on hand at school dances is nothing new, but it didn’t take place last year.
Before then, the high school had a school resource officer who kept an office on campus and prowled school dances.
But because of funding cuts, that officer had to move to regular duty, leaving a void at the school — and its dances.
Telltale signs
With the smell of alcohol last year’s dances — and vomit from someone who had been drinking — Ehrhardt thought the dances needed a police presence again.
One officer will cost $50 an hour and the other will be free of charge, she said.
They are being paid for out of the money raised by ticket sales at the dance.
“We are looking for ways to discourage students from using alcohol and coming onto campus,” the principal said.
Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green said a student will be arrested if he or she is showing objective of being drunk, such as bloodshot eyes, alcohol smell or abnormal actions.
Breathalyzers can only be used with consent, he said.
“You can only ask if they’d be willing to submit [to a Breathalyzer],” Green said.
Ehrhardt said 12 chaperons and the two police officers will do their best to ensure students do not drink before and during the dance.
If a student simply must drink alcohol, “we’d rather they stay home,” she said.
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Reporter Evan Cael can be reached at 360-385-2335 or evan.cael@peninsuladailynews.com.
