6 take advantage of free police rides on St. Patrick’s Day

Posted 3/19/15

Six St. Patrick’s Day partygoers took advantage of the first Safe Rides Program on Tuesday, Colonel Stephen M. McCartney and the Community Services Division of the Warwick Police Department …

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6 take advantage of free police rides on St. Patrick’s Day

Posted

Six St. Patrick’s Day partygoers took advantage of the first Safe Rides Program on Tuesday, Colonel Stephen M. McCartney and the Community Services Division of the Warwick Police Department announced yesterday.

The program was conducted in collaboration with the Warwick Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association with the goal to reduce DUI related crashes, reduce incidents of drunk driving, and offer residents an alternative to being arrested for DUI on the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in the City of Warwick. Bars and liquor-serving establishments throughout Warwick were notified of the program and were encouraged to promote their patrons to utilize the service.

Residents were urged to call 468-4200 for a ride anytime between the hours of 12 noon and midnight on St. Patrick’s Day. Citizen volunteers were dispatched to various establishments in the city to provide citizens a safe, free ride home.

“Although the numbers were lower than we had hoped, even one person who gets home safely and doesn’t get behind the wheel after drinking too much is a success,” Lt Michael Gilbert said in a statement. Gilbert said the department made three DUI arrests on St. Patrick’s Day.

 The Safe Rides Program was the idea of Community Police Sgt. John Kelly, who worked closely in conjunction with members of the Warwick Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association to make the program happen. Future programs such as this one are being considered for other holidays such as New Years Eve.

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