Deputy recognized for alcohol work

Flathead County sheriff's detective Travis Bruyer has been recognized for his work with the county's Alcohol Enforcement Team.

Bruyer coordinates efforts to stop underage drinking in the Flathead.

The task force is "the most successful MIP enforcement task force in the Northwest," said Howard Webb, executive director of the American Council of Criminal Justice Training. Webb is based in Helena.

Bruyer received the Executive Director's Award at the training conference March 30 in Portland.

Webb commended Bruyer's "outstanding contribution to public safety." The task force, Webb said, has made more minor-in-possession arrests than police agencies twice the size of the sheriff's force.

Since fall 2005, the Alcohol Enforcement Team has patrolled the Flathead Valley, often doing compliance checks at area businesses that sell alcohol.

Members arrested more than 2,400 youths for possessing alcohol and more than 140 adults for providing it. During that time, the retailers' compliance rate increased by 30 percent, Webb said.

The team educated more than 200 workers by helping the Safe Kids-Safe Communities Coalition and Fun Beverage present a training program about responsible alcohol sales.

Bruyer's team works with school administrators and school resource officers to have more officers on duty at school dances, proms and games. They speak at town hall-meetings, Rotary Clubs, parades and other venues, emphasizing the dangers of underage drinking and risks to the community.

Twelve similar programs operate in Montana through Montana Board of Crime Control grants. Funding is available for another two years, then local money will be needed to back the programs.

From July 2005 to June 2006, the last grant program year, the Flathead County Alcohol Enforcement Team arrested 1,055 youths for alcohol possession, just 202 fewer arrests than the Missoula Police Department made.

The local program's success comes, in part, from the team's partnership with the Safe Kids-Safe Communities Coalition and from community and retailer support.

"The biggest attribute is the team itself," Webb said.

"Although Oregon and Washington have their own MIP enforcement efforts," Webb said, "they are not as focused or as well-organized as Travis' team."

He said the American Council of Criminal Justice Training is developing an MIP Enforcement Team training model based on the Flathead County model, to offer to city and county law-enforcement agencies and tribal police.

Reporter Nancy Kimball may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com