Sober Graduation NA11067ne

What:   
News Conference to announce LAPD’s 2011 Sober Graduation Program initiatives for the San Fernando Valley to ensure our teenagers are safe on the road.  Sober Graduation targets high school seniors and raises their awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. 

When:   
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Where:  
Monroe High School
9229 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA 91343

Who:      
Chief Steven Zipperman, Los Angeles School Police Department
Deputy Chief Kirk J. Albanese, Commanding Officer, Operations-Valley Bureau
Commander James H. Cansler, Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Valley Bureau
Commander Sharon K. Papa, Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Valley Bureau
Captain Ivan Minsal, Commanding Officer, Valley Traffic Division
Captain Jeff Goodwin, California Highway Patrol, West Valley Area Southern Division
Edward Arensdorf, President, Valley Traffic Advisory Council
Chris Rosas, Principal, James Monroe High School

WHY:   
The Sober Graduation Program was established in 1985 as an effective anti-DUI program targeting high school seniors and raising their awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving.  As spring activities and celebrations mark the end of the school year with graduation celebrations and proms, officers from LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division and the CHP visit more than 35 high schools in the San Fernando Valley in an attempt to re-enforce driver and peer responsibility. 

The officer’s presentation will be supported by numerous attention catching static displays and a driver course simulation for students who will be wearing “Fatal Vision Goggles”.  The Goggles are used as education tools to simulate impairment at three distinct BAC and the effects of drinking by allowing them to experience it with these simulated impairment goggles.  Goggles distort vision and cause behaviors that are similar to behaviors exhibited by someone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.   The Static displays will include: A demolished vehicle that has been associated in a traffic collision involving a drunk driver; an impressive static display depicting a photographic gallery that depicts the consequences and dangers as a result of drinking and driving; and, not only does the crushed car grab the student attention, but it gives them an opportunity to talk to a uniformed officers. 
 
For more information, please contact Sergeant Arturo Gomez at 805-559-9637, or Valley Traffic Division Watch Commander at 818-644-8010. 

Sober Graduation Press Conference – Schedule
Monroe High School

7:30 a.m.    VTD officers arrive at Monroe to stage and set-up Crash Car, DUI Trailer and set-up course for driver course simulation.

8:30 a.m.    Media Crew(s) arrival.

9:00 a.m.    Press Conference.

9:30 a.m.    Student driver simulation course.

10:15 a.m.  Assembly for graduating class.