Lawrence officers stay busy during madness
Businesses report broken windows
Even with the rain fans took the celebration to the streets, where the police made sure things stayed safe.
By Francesca Chambers (Contact)
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
Police officers stayed busy Monday night even though Massachusetts Street was barricaded from traffic and a storm cut fans’ celebrations short.
Sgt. Paul Fellers, of the Lawrence Police Department, said that more police officers were located downtown Monday than on Saturday and that Monday’s victory drew more people to the streets. Fellers said more fans took to the roofs, trees and poles as well.
Photo by Rachel Seymour
Police officers monitor and greet KU fans at 11th and Massachusetts Street after Kansas defeated Memphis in the NCAA Championship game Monday night. Fans as they spilled out into Massachusetts street from businesses, bars and home to celebrate the victory.
Fellers said he was concerned about people climbing on street sign poles specifically because if a fan had shaken one loose the fan could have hurt himself and other people in the crowd.
He also said he was worried about the fans who were climbing on signs above businesses because they could have been electrocuted.
Fellers said the low electrical lines in combination with the lightening after the game could have been disastrous for fans on the signs and in the crowds.
Fans climbed on several businesses’ lighted signs, but as of Tuesday afternoon, Yokohama Sushi, 811 New Hampshire St., was the only business to have reported damage to its sign.
U.S. Bank, 900 Massachusetts St., Papa Keno’s, 1013 Massachusetts St., and St. Lawrence Dance Academy, 1117 Massachusetts St. all reported broken windows. Presto gas station reported a broken window Saturday.
Fellers said overall he thought fans celebrated responsibly in relation to the number of people who were on Massachusetts Street.
A few fans said they thought police acted courteously in relation to the amount of illegal activities that were occurring on the streets.
“They only come up, take the beer from your hand and walk off,” said Sarah Bracciano, Leawood graduate student. “Very good men.”
Kiley Miller, Kansas City, Kan., graduate student, said she did not think the police could have done much more to control crowds and ensure safety than they did Monday evening.
Fellers said he noticed a lot of fireworks, but he said downtown was a relatively safe atmosphere after the game.
Because police blocked traffic to Massachusetts Street fewer Lawrence residents reported criminal damage to their vehicles than Saturday. Only three residents reported damage to their vehicles.
After Saturday’s celebration, at least four residents reported damage to the hoods of their cars and several others reported damage to other areas of their vehicles.
Fellers said he was not surprised about the amount of damage that was done to vehicles after the games.
“Inevitably, with a crowd that size, and there is a percentage of those individuals who have consumed alcohol, inevitably you will have some things like that occur,” Fellers said.
Fellers said the number of fans who partied downtown in the dreary weather did not surprise him. He said he thought fans would have filled the streets even if the rain was pouring.
— Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
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I tip my cap to the professionalism of the Lawrence PD for their handling of the crowds. Well done guys.
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