The Oceanside Police Department received a grant of $87,966 from the state to reduce alcohol-related crimes in the community.

The grant comes from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP).

The SoCal police department is one among 50 other law enforcement agencies in the state to receive funds from the APP. APP is a program within the Alcoholic Beverage Control department that works with law enforcement to “eliminate crime and public nuisance problems” associated with alcohol drinking and to crack down on places that illegally sell alcohol.

Oceanside Lt. Matt Cole told Fox 5 that the grant money will go toward reducing alcohol sales to minors and already-intoxicated patrons, as well as limiting the illegal solicitations of alcohol and drugs.

Director Eric Hirata of the Alcoholic Beverage Control said that the APP builds partnerships with law enforcement to target “bad operators,” penalizing businesses that violate laws with fines, suspensions or revocations, and believes the grants have benefitted communities.

“The program can improve the quality of life in neighborhoods,” Hirata said. “We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program resources have been invested.”

The agency also works to protect minors from alcohol use and to prevent the illegal solicitation of alcohol and drugs.