BARRINGTON — Nine hours after Thursday’s memorial service for a local teen killed in an alcohol-related boating accident, the police broke up a house party with 35 to 40 teens that resulted in four arrests for underage drinking.

Barrington has been trying to counter youth drinking with regular “party patrols” in town. Officials had hoped that last week’s death of Patrick Murphy, and the publicity surrounding it, would make teens think twice about consuming liquor.

“They’re apparently not getting it,” Police Chief John LaCross said yesterday following the arrests Thursday evening of Scott D. MacPhee of 17 Manning Drive and Brian J. Mahoney of 14 Starbrook Drive, both Barrington; Neil R. Ryan of 921 Atwells Ave., Providence; and Derek W. Sigman of 30 Kristen Court, Warwick.

All are 19 and were arrested at Mahoney’s family’s house.

Mahoney told the police his parents were out of town.

The teen told the officers at least 20 of the partygoers were underage.

The police said they found six 30-packs and several six-packs of beer.

“That’s the tide we’re up against,” said Kathleen Sullivan, coordinator of the town’s substance abuse task force.

The four 19-year-olds were charged because they were still holding alcohol when the police entered the house.

Officers said they had to wait outside for about 10 minutes before Mahoney answered the door.

LaCross said all the people at the party have been identified. Those who were not arrested will have letters sent to their parents informing them that their child was at a party where underage drinking was apparently taking place.

Sigman complained to Ptlm. Gregg Koutros that he was just moving the beer and had not had a drink in a year.

Koutros said he offered to take Sigman to the police station and give him a Breathalyzer test so he could get the charge dismissed in court.

“He thanked me and declined, stating that he will just go to court,” Koutros said in his report.

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