Throughout June, volunteer police officers will work overtime in Ames grocery and convenience stores in an attempt to curb tobacco purchases by minors.

The program, called “Cops in Shops,” is funded in part by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division, said Jim Robinson, Ames Police Department commander.

The program has two goals: to prevent underage individuals from purchasing tobacco products and to prevent others from buying tobacco for minors.

During the program, police officers will volunteer to work overtime, wearing plain clothes and monitoring businesses selling tobacco products in two- to three-hour shifts.

Robinson said 10 to 15 percent of the 49 Ames officers are expected to participate in the program.

Businesses are chosen at random and are informed ahead of time when a plain clothes officer will be present, Robinson said.

“We won’t release which stores we will actually be in, since there’s no way we could be in all stores,” Robinson said.

If an officer catches a juvenile buying tobacco products, he or she could fine that individual $50 and eight hours of community service for a first offense, said Gary Marker with the Alcoholic Beverage Division.

Although Robinson said the program is “not targeting business establishments,” Marker noted that selling tobacco to a minor is a misdemeanor that can carry a $100 fine.

Marker said someone caught purchasing tobacco products for a minor could be fined up to $100 or spend 30 days in jail.

The program is a statewide offshoot of similar programs directed at monitoring minors’ use of alcohol, Marker said.

Robinson said surveys are used to determine how effective these types of programs are, and that “compared to other Iowa counties, we’re doing quite well.”

Officers test store compliance by sending juveniles in to attempt to purchase tobacco or alcoholic products. Similar surveys will be used to evaluate the “Cops in Shops” program.

The program will continue if it receives enough funding.

“Until [juveniles are] 18, they should give their lungs a break,” Marker said.