The Bakersfield Police Department has been awarded a $98,763 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to combat crimes related to alcohol.

According to BPD, the grant is one of 51 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC's Alcohol Policing Partnership Program.

BPD said that the purpose of the grant is to strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining the efforts of local officers and ABC agents, who have the expertise in alcoholic beverage laws and can help communities reduce alcohol-related issues.

According to officials with BPD, the BPD Vice Unit will use the funds to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol and other criminal activities such as the sale and possession of illegal drugs in and around ABC licensed establishments.