Police look to curb repeat drunkards

After complaints about intoxicated people wandering in Clovis parks and trails, the Clovis Police Department decided to address the problem at its source -- supermarkets, liquor stores, convenience stores and bars.

Establishments that sell alcohol will be banned from providing alcoholic beverages to habitual drunks, according to a new ordinance that the City Council reviewed April 14. Council members, who showed unanimous support Monday night, will vote on the ordinance April 21.

The ordinance defines habitual drunks as people who are arrested for pubic intoxication three times in six months or people designated by the court system as habitual drunks.

The Clovis Police Department will provide a list of the city's habitual drunks including photographs to establishments that sell alcohol. The lists must be posted in employee areas not in view of the public. Businesses that don't enforce the new ordinance will be cited with a misdemeanor.

"We want to create a citywide environment that encourages responsible drinking," Police Capt. Drew Bessinger said. "Sometimes there needs to be that extra push and we feel this is the correct vehicle."

Bessinger told council members there are up to 15 habitual drunks in Clovis. Several of them are arrested on a weekly -- sometimes daily -- basis for public intoxication. That's about two hours of staff time for each citation, Bessinger said.

"If we can reduce the number of times we arrest somebody because we cut down their access to alcohol, I've increased the amount of staff I can keep on the street," Bessinger said.

Elain Willhoite, bar manager at Jimbo's, said the ordinance is unnecessary because businesses that sell alcohol are already required to refuse service to habitual drunks by the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control guidelines. Jimbo's currently has a list of 45 people banned from the bar.

"I don't like the idea of the ordinance mainly because this is already a part of our ABC license," Willhoite said. "We can't serve alcohol to someone who is a habitual drunk."

Bessinger said the ordinance simply defines "habitual drunk."

Clovis Independent