WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. March 28, 2005: Captain Ann Fitzsimmons of the White Plains Department of Public Safety brought WPCNR up-to-date in an exclusive interview today on how the Saint Patrick’s Day drinking party interdiction resulting in the one-day suspension of approximately 25 students was handled by the school district and the police March 17. Students cut class and left grounds of White Plains High School without permission to attend a Saint Patrick's Day beer party at a student's home adjacent to the high school on Baylor Circle, adjacent to the school's tennis courts.

Captain Fitzsimmons reports an arrest has been made, citing a White Plains establishment, the Tu Pais Deli  Ltd, 107 Fisher Avenue, which allegedly sold the beer to the host of the party who used a false I.D. to purchase beer for the party, according to the Captain. Tu Pais is due in city court April 6.

Tu Pais cited for third alleged violation.

This is not the first time Tu Pais has been associated with selling alcohol to minors. According to Fitzsimmons, Tu Pais was cited in July of 2004 and in September, 2003 on similar charges. Captain Fitzsimmons did not have information as to whether the establishment was convicted, or what penalties they received, if any. Asked if there was any penalty to an establishment for repeated liquor law violations, Captain Fitzsimmons said WPCNR would have to check with other authorities.

Student Roundup. 

Fitzsimmons explained how the morning beer party was stopped before it began. She confirmed what Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors told WPCNR last week: no student was caught drinking. Beer was the alcoholic beverage on the premises. Fitzsimmons was not sure of how the beer was packaged.

“Sergeant (Howard) Tribble, (school police liaison officer), and the school administration found out about the party. They quickly acted upon and were able to stop it,” Fitzsimmons said. She described what happened after students were transported by school bus to Eastview:

“As you know already the kids were transported over to Eastview (Middle School), and I think it says a lot about our community. We set up the gym. We had chairs for all the students to sit and chairs for all the parents (of the children) to sit, who had to come and pick up their child.

Police and Administration Go Over the Territory. 

“We had two tables set up. We had one table for  (officials from) the school administration and one table (of officers) for the police department. Each child had to meet with someone from the School District, and then that child had to go and meet with the representative from the police department. Then each parent had to do the same thing.”

“I think that cooperative effort showing a united community is probably the most important thing that happened through this whole thing. That message that was sent to the children and their parents that we’re all working together is probably the most important thing we can send throughout our community. I am so happy that we have this that everybody can act quickly together and stop these things from happening,” Fitzsimmons said.

WPCNR asked if there was a high level of illegal drinking parties in the city. Fitzsimmons said that she did not expect the number to be high right now. “We have to constantly monitor them. Once school lets out we have to keep on working on that.”

Anonymous Tip Line: 422-6256.

Fitzsimmons said anyone with any information on illegal party stagings or  consistent illegal sales to minors by establishments should call 422-6256, no questions asked, to report relevant facts and suspicions.

The Captain said information and counseling efforts have been and will continue to be “ongoing,” mentioning a recent PTA meeting where the Police Department discussed responsibilities of parents and their children when having a party in your home was discussed, and also mentioned the Safe Driving Task Force initiative. Fitizsimmons noted the consequences for a parent in whose home a party is held where alcohol was consumed:

“If they did not know the party was going on, it is unlikely they would have a criminal case upon them, but they have potential for a civil liability (case) brought upon them.”

Beer in the morning?

Fitzsimmons said the alcohol available at the March 17 party was beer. She said it was purchased by the student hosting the party, using a false I.D., which the student had purchased somewhere in New York City. Fitzsimmons noted that the I.D. used to purchase the beer read “Non Government Issue,” and establishments are required to rely on “government-issued” I.D.’s. “It’s very clear (the government issue),” Fitzimmons said.

The students, according to information WPCNR has received, were required by the School District to serve a one-day In-School Suspension for cutting classes and leaving school grounds without permission. Those were the only penalties the district imposed.

Fake I.D. the Method of Choice.  21-Somethings Also Resell.

Fitzsimmons told WPCNR that the primary method White Plains teens use to get liquor is the "fake I.D." Asked if young persons over age twenty-one offer to supply underage teens with alcohol for possible parties, Fitzsimmons did not rule it out. WPCNR knows of one college in Newark where students over the age of twenty-one have been known to "retail" alcohol to underage students on their campus and elsewhere.