A panel appointed by Governor McAuliffe to review the activities of Alcoholic Beverage Control agents spent hours yesterday scrutinizing the department’s structure, how agents are trained, and recent public safety statistics.
Prompted by a public outcry over the forceful arrest of a 20-year-old UVa student who suffered a gash on his head, the panel is tasked with recommending improvements--and whether or not ABC agents should retain their law enforcement authority.
Contrary to public speculation, all ABC agents are certified police officers with many hours of classroom and field training. Nearly 80% of recent arrests were for liquor law violations and drunkenness, and nearly half of arrestees were ages 10 through 20. But Harrisonburg Mayor Christopher Jones said while the training may have been adequate in the past, he wonders what would give rise to using force in a student misdemeanor arrest.
“It’s the actual in-office culture that is going to determine the application of the actual use of force. In the incident that happened, somewhere in the back, back, back, back of those officers’ mind, there was a part of them that thought this is okay, to some degree.”
There’s now just one agent for every 211 retail licensees. Alcohol-related public safety investigations take only 30% of the agents’ time. Radford Police Chief Don Goodman offered another perspective.
“I’ve seen the hazard and tragedy of unchecked alcohol in and amongst people that aren’t prepared to experience it. So I see ABC as a partner with me in helping to maintain a safe community.”
Some members added that the use of plain clothes agents is counterproductive.
The agency is already planning re-training sessions, which will include responses to active resistance and use of force, cultural diversity, and communication with minors and young adults. The panel will hold additional meetings before making its final recommendations.
