New Dublin School Resource Officer To Focus On Tobacco Laws

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin Police Services is set to assign a school resource officer to focus on enforcement of tobacco-related laws.

The city council voted April 20 to accept an $875,000 grant from the state Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program, which seeks to crack down on illegal sales and marketing of tobacco products to minors, including electronic cigarettes or vaping devices.

The grant award comes as Dublin — and cities across the nation — report a steep uptick in tobacco usage amid a surge in popularity of electronic cigarettes.

Dublin tobacco retailers have previously been cited for selling tobacco products to minors, city staff wrote in a report to the council. One retailer even had its license revoked after receiving numerous violations.

The city has also received an increase in complaints involving student tobacco use in local parks, near Dublin High School and along the Iron Horse Trail, city staff wrote.

The grant will be awarded over the course of the next three fiscal years. The officer is slated to receive $277,000 in the first year, then $290,000 and $305,000.