A recent underage drinking party in Barrington spurred the closer examination of a police department policy.

Barrington Police Chief John LaCross last week asked the town solicitor's legal opinion about whether the police department could share with Barrington school officials the names of teenagers who attend underage drinking parties. 

The idea surfaced after Barrington police responded to a large underage party on Saturday, March 24. Police charged only one teenager — a 17-year-old boy from Barrington — but estimated that more than 30 teenage boys and girls were at the party.

Chief LaCross said he would like to share the names of all the party-goers with the school department so that officials can hand out punishments for anyone found to be violating the student handbooks, even though the teenagers may not have been charged with a crime.

"I would love to be able to share a list with the high school every time there is a party," Chief LaCross said during an interview last week.

The Barrington High School student handbook prohibits "possession, consumption, being under the influence of, and/or distribution, other than as prescribed by a physician for personal use, of controlled substances or drugs and/or other intoxicants at or during a school, school-related or School Committee sponsored activity, whether held on school property or at locations off school property."

The student-athlete handbook includes the same provision and goes one step further, adding "If a student athlete attends a party where alcohol or drugs are being illegally dispensed, the student athlete must leave the party immediately."

Chief LaCross said more than two dozen teenagers attended the March 24 underage party at 1 St. Andrew's Way, and it is possible that some of those individuals were student-athletes at Barrington High School. 

If a student-athlete was discovered to have violated the handbook, he or she would be suspended from all interscholastic competition and practices for the next 15 consecutive calendar days. After 10 days, the athlete could return to the team for practice only. 

School officials did not hand down any punishments following the March 24 party because they did not have the names of the students who were there, said Barrington High School Principal Joe Hurley.

"We were not given any names," said Mr. Hurley. 

In an email to the Times, Chief LaCross wrote: "The police department has never provided a list of adult teenager name(s) to the school district, or has identified an adult teenager, who was either in attendance at an incident or listed as a witness unless that person was formerly charged with a crime. On 3/24/18, only 1 juvenile was charged with a crime."

Mr. Hurley said Barrington High School Director of Athletics and Student Activities George Finn does a nice job each season informing student-athletes about the rules included in the handbook. 

"We take this very seriously," said Mr. Hurley.

On Monday, April 2, Chief LaCross said the town's attorney had told him that he could not share the names of students who were spotted by police at an underage drinking party. He said the law stipulates that police can only share the names of individuals who are 18 or older and charged with a crime. 

Chief LaCross said he will continue to send out "You Should Know" letters to the parents of teenagers who are found at parties. The most recent "You Should Know" letter shared details of the March 24 underage party.

"Found throughout the basement of the residence were several half-filled cups of beer and hard liquor, as well as a strong odor of marijuana and smoking paraphernalia. A drinking game identified as 'beer pong' was also set up within the residence with several full glasses of beer within the cups.

"Although your child was not arrested, it is important as parents for you to know that your child was observed attending this party. This letter is merely a means to communicate the above information to you in the event you choose to discuss this incident with your child as it relates to the negative consequences associated with underage drinking."