Police call Memorial Day patrols a 'win'

Police are calling the three-day Memorial Day weekend a “win” after three drunken drivers were arrested and zero minors were cited for consuming alcohol.

“Our goal was to get everyone back on Tuesday morning alive and that happened,” Juneau Police Department Lt. Kris Sell said. “We got all the kids to Tuesday morning.”

Monday’s holiday was preceded by ceremonies for all of Juneau’s graduating high school seniors on Sunday. Police patrols for the weekend included a Mobile Incident Command Center just past Eagle Beach where some teens have been known to go for parties that involved underage drinking. Sell said by the end of the weekend, more patrol cars than civilian cars could be found out near the end of the road.

“We just did not see teenagers out the road,” Sell said. “We did have parents that called us and said that their kids’ plans for out the road parties were being cancelled or moved because of pressure.”

Sell said if parties with minors consuming alcohol were moved to other locations, they weren’t in public spaces and any inebriated teens weren’t seen driving on the roadways, which all adds up to a safer holiday weekend.

Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Quinto said the weekend was also “normal” for his department, with no major incidents that required medical or fire response.

JPD reported responding to 34 incidents, which mostly included thefts and citations for driving without a valid license. Officers logged 20 hours of “Click It or Ticket” patrol as well.

The three drunken driving incidents involved a hit-and-run Monday night that took out a light pole on Egan Drive and resulted in an arrest, one in the Auke Bay area Saturday night and one Friday night near Aurora Harbor. No injuries were reported for any of those incidents.

Sell said aside from drunken drivers and issuing citations, the weekend was enjoyable for patrolling officers who received repeated thanks from community members for the police force’s increased efforts. A few people even stopped to enjoy a burger or hot dog with officers who were camped out at the Mobile Incident Command Center. JPD Chief Bryce Johnson has already committed to repeating this year’s efforts during next year’s Memorial Weekend, Sell said.

• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.