This is such a loaded issue for those of us with college-age but still under-age kids. For the record, I don't think the Chafees got off easy. The story was on page 1 of Projo at least twice and much was made of it on talk radio. /eliz. mcnamara

Dan McGowan, who broke this story for GoLocalProv, reminded me that Esserman didn't actually immediately break it up when he came home. He was present the entire time.

He should lose his "job". Underage drinking & driving & who knows what else. If a death occurred this story just doesn't go away, we are just lucky that nothing bad happened Sorry you live in a fishbowl, but you chose the public life.Don't like it move into the private sector

Naturally we abhor teenage drinking and anyone driving while intoxicated. But it's a common enough occurrence that we know it's wrong and can rally against it. Governor's son or just an average teenage Joe... doesn't matter. One would hope that parents would realize that these things go on, could be their own children and put an end to it. But what bothers me most about this incident is the rather harsh way to female inebriate was dumped off the property rather than ferried to an emergency room. That is bad behavior, shows a base level of humanity, and deserves a bigger piece of the publicity pie than it's getting.

With a Nation that can't even enforce Illegal Imigration Federal laws and wiggles through black and white print....I am not at all surprised to read some view this as a loaded question. I view Black and White. He is obviously part of the one % that view he is above this... Society's values on "consequences" are based on that specific community and it is like "Common Sense", which the Mitt Romney's and Chaffee's just don't get! Oops, don't get me wrong, Obama is not able to discern Black & White either, as he is allowing 800,000 Illegals...errr.

Elizabeth said it - front page 2x and all over talk radio. We the people can start a petition to remove him from his position...but I have too much on my plate fighting fires I'm already in. Any takers?

I think it's not fair to blame a parent for the choices of their adult child. If they have a reasonable opportunity to stop the illegal behavior then they do have a duty and should be responsible, but otherwise you can't. Dean Esserman was already on the outs anyway, but he was treated unfairly. Chafee had no way of knowing or stopping what happened according to what we know. I will say that some of the circumstances however do seem odd, why was Barrington Police Chief Lacross there again?

What does teenage son of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse have to say? You have a point Jason if Chafee son is a tenant. If an adult child is living on their property and conducts themselves that way with refrigerators filled with booze at graduation day - would you have to be a genious to figure out what would be transpiring that day? "Some Circumstances seem odd"?

There are social host liability laws, in which parents are responsible for underage drinking in their home. Basically, a parent that serves or supplies alcohol to underage drinkers can be liable if that person is injured or injures someone else.

Parents Providing Alcohol to Underage Drinkers:
The legal drinking age in every state is 21. Parents who supply alcohol in their home to underage drinkers break the law. The same is true if parents knowingly allow underage drinkers to consume alcohol in the home. Parents who furnish or allow underage drinking to occur are subject to civil and criminal penalties. (see full, http://criminal.lawyers.com/Criminal-Law-Basics/Parents-Responsibility-for-Underage-Drinking.html) There is much info out there. Again, unless this booze magically appeared, the Owners of the house knew.

No comment on Elmer Fudd Esserman!

THIS is Chafee's pick for DCYF, and this story isnt her only sin. This governor is not what he wants to appear!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FktNj3C0Vc

How about the double standard that exists for these people who are between 18 and 21. They can sign up to go fight and die for our country but if they come home and want to have a beer this could happen. Are they adults or aren't they? It doesn't seem fair to have things both ways.

Why was the Barrington Police Chief at the house ? Why did the governor dance around the question of "was any adults present during this party " when interviewed ? We need a full investigation , if this was a town, city or state employee they would be suspended !!! It is a double standard in good ol boy R.I....

Correction: only suspend state employees that are not in Chafee's "Inner Circle"....

Hourahan (Govenor's long time friend who rents a building on his property) stated in that he was aware of a refrigerator all juiced up but said the 3 times he entered that day...he never saw anyone drinking. Dope!

If nothing else, Chaffee should be speaking out saying he doesn't condone and he expects consequences will be connected for his son. It's a life learning lesson and kids make mistakes but I will stand by him as HE takes his punishment. However, if they find there was knowledge by Dad giving him "the nod to have this party with booze", then he needs to step down. Period.

Jason, you are correct though......it must be clear, and not assumed that he knew. I retract my "assumption he knew", only until the proof is shown. I gave you that perspective as a parent with intuition, but you are right...we need to wait.

This case serves as another reason why we need to prevent teens from consuming alcohol. Teen drinking can result in alcohol poisoning. It can also results in fatal car crashes, increased risk of accidents, drowning and suicide.

As community members, we need set good examples for our youth. Adults need to drink responsibly and never drive while intoxicated. Parental communication and monitoring are keys to help prevent teen drinking.

Underage drinking is a community problem with community solutions. Everyone has a role to play whether you are a parent, teacher, police officer, town official, health care professional or coach. To get more involved in preventing such senseless and preventable tragedies, get in touch with your local prevention task force. Your voice matters!

The father is fighting to legalize marijuana and the son is drinking illegally.

Great example.

August 23, 1999 PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In an unplanned announcement yesterday morning that could mean trouble for the U.S. Senate candidate and son of a stalwart Republican, Lincoln Chafee admitted that he used cocaine "several times" during his college years.

June 21, 2012 PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The day after Governor Chafee's son Caleb hosted a drinking party now under criminal investigation, Caleb had a District Court judge wipe out the public record of his involvement in an illegal-alcohol case.

The first family of Rhode Island... drug addicts and drunks.

This state really sucks.

And lest we forget the wonderful example our state legislators are setting too!

Which of them will get arrested this week...

This dialogue is getting out of hand. Governor Chafee is not a drug addict and his son is not an alcoholic. Can't you people base your concerns within some semblance of reality? Half the country tried cocaine and/or marijuana in the 70s. And I would not be honest if I said I waited until I was 21 before I had a beer. As I said before, the issue of concern here is the drastic dumping of the intoxicated girl off the premises instead of getting her help. That shows a lack of regard for a fellow human being and that bothers me about young Chafee.

Fine! The Governor is a drug addict and his son is a drunk. Go for it!

Okay, okay. It's time for the rhetoric to chill. Let's try for more civility in the comments here please.

Amazing "dialogue". I can think of many a fine resident of this town whose teen children behaved in much the same way. Do we tar and feather all teens who behaved like morons? I gather everyone on this board raised their children so perfectly that they never did anything wrong.

Liberals like the Chafee's raise their children with ways that in the end lead to their problems. Spare the Rod,Spoil the Child . The Chafee's couldn't control that kid if they wanted too. He has never learned Discipline, or respect for others. They probably had him on medication half his life .
My parents taught all of us to respect others . Charity and good will . The value of money and hard work . We all worked in my boy hood home . My mother worked full time as a waitress . We cleaned the house ,cut the grass ,washed clothes and hung them on the line. These are the things these young men should have learned.
They took the 5th, Vodka Rum and Gin.

It's sounds like you were raised the way you needed to be raised let's see.
" Born in Tiverton 1960 " Raising hell ever since " nice profile, lol. By the way you have no idea how other people raise their children, let's try not to make too much stuff up, OK. People are generally smart enough to know when you do.

"Tar and Feather". The fact is he elected to be a pinnicle image and in the spotlight. Ergo, his mistakes or success is given higher recognition that the average fine resident (subjective too). Seed & Soil is absolutely right, I grew up with alcohol all around and RESPECTED it....until I turned 15...and then I made the mistake of taking some vodka and not noticing my mother had lined the bottle and after I got home from the park...I got a meeting with God talk and again in the morning to ensure I missed nothing. This is all about respect, unfortunately impulsivity (okay, with young impetious boys) takes over, BUT, how does one argue "issue of concern here is the drastic dumping of the intoxicated girl off the premises instead of getting her help. That shows a lack of regard for a fellow human being and that bothers me about young Chafee" as Alan Clarke says.

Big picture - we have a country led by a President whom breaks our own federal laws allowing Illegals to live here. It clearly is trickling down. (NOTE, I am even less of a supporter of Romney). Let's stick to the facts, but again, my motherly instinct says they knew - however the son is an adult and should accept the responsibility for his actions ....especially knowing the situation he's put his Dad in. Tisk tisk....

These Liberal types obviously weren't raised with our common sense values John & Joe....but I don't think it's going to get better.

I was always annoyed with that type of party animal. I hated the movie too. But, your talking to someone who would rather sit around with old timers and share a beer with them becuase I know the conversation was more interesting. I will agree that I fundamentally disagree with the Animal House Jock parties of yesteryears....lol!

Aaahh people in glass houses..... Where were your outraged voices when Mr Watson was arrested several times and still has not resigned?

Come to think of it I don't recall Mr. Weiss opining large on the political uncorrectness of smoking pot and drinking on Mr.Watson's behalf either.

This young man will get away with it again . He will feel above the rest, untouchable. In the end like so many the Drugs and Alcohol will catch up. He will have to face the hard truth. He doesn't have that strong moral guidance instilled in to his fiber. Jail may be the turn around or maybe a tragic death. God Bless him with the wisdom his parents failed to instill.

Weiss a liberal sticking up for Esserman another liberal. Esserman was incompetent in RI and has proven his incompetence in CT. He was the "top cop' in PVD and his tacit approval of his underage daughters booze and weed party was the last straw. The rank and file disliked him because of his snotty attitude and lack of actual police experience.

ok all of you The bottom line is HE's GOV>Goofy son and that makes it ok,
wake up fools politician are above the law

I don't think I know it all. I only go by what I've seen. I have many friends and family that I have watched raise their children . I only relay my observation . Flaming Liberals like the Chafee's seem to have spoiled rotten kids who think the world revolves around them. Just my observation

GOD FORBID any of these "so called" PUBLIC OFFICIALS were African-American!!!! They'd all be tarred and feathered, immediately fired, and maybe hung! The State of RI would definitely call for this kind of treatment rather than deal with the real issue of parents knowingly their underage children were having drinking parties within their responsibiites. That would be the bigger news. Let's address what's on the books as to the law, period.

Living in Barrington and seeing first hand the lives lost to underage drinking and the continued level of acceptance and deafening defending of underage drinking you wonder when parents will get the message. Chafed's property was the host house of an underage drinking party where a tragedy was narrowly averted. Parents are responsible for their teens and their property. The fact that the police chief was there and claimed to see no drinking is typical Barrington mentality don't look don't see. Many elected officials in Barrington have kids who party so of course rules are meant to be bent and broken to serve them. Every adult in the community has the responsibility to behave responsibly. chafee's son was arrestedvlast month as well. No harm no foul? I do have grown children, they have never attended a party and have not drank or used drugs. It was a full time job raising them, knowing their friends and never letting them attend ladies. But they were better equipped for college because they had already learned to socialize substance free. Now they tell me how glad they are that I prevented them from falling into that crowd. I also led by my example which is something that all parents should do. Chafee's son has a problem and the governor should be charged with social hosting. I'm still not sure why the parents of the teens attending the party didn't know where their kids were? And pleading the fifth and dumping that young lady off the property is disgraceful.

J Schaefer, the reason for the increased murder rate in Providence isn't a function of Esserman's removal, it's more a function of a decreased number of officers on duty.

I agree, Mr " Chaffee " should resign and leave the State to the Lt Govenor. till the next election. Only fair.

@ Ella, I totally agree...well said!

So, what's the solution as this has been in every media source? Do we the people start an online petition and as for his Resignation? Write to the Attorney General. Uprising at State House.

Does anyone know the process to unseat by public repeal?

if we are going to talk about the criminals, well why not talk about how much the state pays the prison per year per prisoner ? now lets look at someone who took anothers life, well seeing how we don't have the death penalty we pay the prison for another persons life for them to feed, cloth and bathe, and bunk, so what its behind bars, thats what the criminal wanted, he or she was afraid to live on the streets any longer, so they go out and murder someone they hate, Rhode Island, and every state in the country should keep the death penalty and if they don't, it isn't to save antohers life, its to cost the state money and tax payers. The Prisons are some sort of a scam for the states, thats why they are all full to capacity.