After Dodger Stadium attack, Los Angeles police to increase presence at games

LA Times ^ | April 8, 2011 | Joel Rubin

[Beaten Valve]

After the unprovoked attack last week at Dodger Stadium that left a San Francisco Giants fan with brain damage, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck on Thursday announced a plan to significantly increase the number of police officers on patrol during games.

"You are going to see a sea of blue. And it's not going to be Dodger blue. It's going to be LAPD blue," Beck said of the beefed-up police presence planned for the team's next home game Thursday.

Beck made the announcement at a news conference with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, where both were at pains to restore the public's sense of safety at the stadium and in its sprawling parking lots.

The chief said that "at the absolute minimum" he would double the 30 to 40 uniformed officers who typically are deployed at games. Beck declined to provide specific numbers, saying his staff was still working to determine how many officers were needed to provide more comprehensive coverage inside and outside the stadium. Along with the higher number of uniformed officers, Beck emphasized that undercover officers would be deployed as well.

LAPD officers working at Dodger Stadium are typically off duty from their normal patrol assignments. So, it is unlikely that the increase in security will drain officers from nearby police stations. The stadium is one of a handful of high-profile sporting and entertainment locations in the city where off-duty officers are permitted to wear their uniforms while providing security.

[Beaten Valve]

I wonder how many of the gang bangers will understand this new LAPD code of conduct??

[pabianice]

The Rancid Media hides the truth, of course, but outside the gated, privately guarded rich neighborhoods, and beyond the gleaming, privately guarded skyscrapers, LA has become a warm version of Detroit. Unbelievable crime and violence. Untenable small business climate. Not even a gesture at border control. If the country collapses because of Obama and Reid, LA will be one of the first places to burn.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

It was bad when the Raiders were playing at the LA Coliseum, too - you took a big chance wearing another team's colors into that place. Unfortunately the Raiders brought the same kind of fan mentality back with them when they returned to Oakland - when I was a kid, Raiders games at the Oakland Coliseum were kid-friendly events.

[dfwgator]

It’s going to get to the point where we literally beg Mexico to take LA off of our hands.

[La Enchiladita]

It’s too late for all these CYA maneuvers by Dodgers ownership. Notice how local news fails to mention the VP of Security position was vacant since last season.

The Dodgers organization ENCOURAGED the hispanic thugs and their ilk to attend and take over the stadium. Now, they can live with it.

True fans have have already been boycotting the games and more will join them.

[Sir Napsalot]

Last year, a St. Louis Cardinals fan got beaten up by some unidentified thugs (cough-Philles fans-cough).

But I don’t think the poor guy suffered brain damage. And I thought Phillie/Eagles fans enjoy the worst reputation (no brotherly love in Philadelphia).

[South40]

Will the LAPD be sending in the gang unit? Because that’s probably what they’re going to need.

[Goldsborough]

In Brooklyn, the "dodging" was of trolley cars. In Los Angeles, the "dodging" is of immigration and local law enforcement while having turf battles at Chavez Ravine in "Los Doyers" gear.

Frank McCourt actively markets for a film of cholo scum to show at Doyers games, while Mexican descended Arturo Moreno, who owns the Angels, goes out of his way to make a better fan experience for all.*

*Unless Scott Kazmir is taking the mound, which is only fun for the visitors. (Come on Artie, eat that contract already).

[Beaten Valve]

This is what we get for having an open border.

[The Great RJ]

While it is nice the LAPD is beefing up its security at Dodgers games it is a little late for this poor man. I hope the LAPD is equally as diligent in finding the perpetrators and local prosecutors are wiling to push for these thugs to get the maximum sentence possible including the death penalty if this victim dies. What makes this particularly sad is the victim was a paramedic and made a career of saving lives including I’m sure worthless scum like those who assaulted him.

[Smogger]

Let’s see. In 2009 a guy was KILLED in a fight inside Angel’s Stadium on opening day. Later on that year an off duty cop shot two guys who assaulted him also at Angel’s Stadium. So these incidents are by no means limited to the Dodgers or Dodgers fans.

[Smogger]

Arturo Moreno, who owns the Angels, goes out of his way to make a better fan experience for all.

— Uh unless your the guy getting killed.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/09/local/me-angels-fan-dead9

— Or having to shoot your way out of the parking lot.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4285702

[forgotten man]

“It’s going to get to the point where we literally beg Mexico to take LA off of our hands.”

If California were given back to Mexico all of the Mexicans in California would jump the new border into Oregon.

[humblegunner]

Stadium attack?

Didn’t I read a story about that?

[Goldsborough]

To the Angels detractors:

You'd have to go to the two venues to take in the massive differences in how the two clubs are run at their respective sites.

Incidents, such as those that the Angels suffered on their premises in the past couple of years are highly abnormal, as security is seemingly omnipresent there compared with what goes on a Dodgers Stadium.

At the Ravine, open drinking in the lots, unauthorized booze sales in the lots, security that frankly vanishes in the lots after the late arrivals in the third inning finally get there, security which never reappears, especially at night games, is an ongoing concern. There is far more "run of the mill" fan violence at Doyers games than at Angels games and the arrest numbers and youtube videos on combat in the stands at the respective stadiums would bear that out upon even casual perusal.

Part of this fan violence at Chavez Ravine is no doubt tied to having both the Giants and Padres as relatively close divisional rivals, which brings a dynamic to Dodgers-Giants and Dodgers-Padres that just doesn't materialize for Angels-A's, or Angels-Mariners, but an equally inescapable part of it is also Frank McCourt's relative indifference as to how the upper decks and outfield seats get filled and by whom so long as they are as full as possible.

McCourt should have never been allowed to buy the Dodgers. He has blown his way right through the MLB's debt service rule. He has turned the premiere franchise in the second largest media market into a complete joke from both a payroll standpoint and a fan experience one unless you are among the glitterati and the wannabes with private parking who pay for seats they plunked down in the old foul territory. With a decrepit 56K capacity stadium to fill in a vain attempt to service crushing debt interest, (none of which was incurred to win a pennant), and pay for a hefty divorce from a hag who is every bit the free spender he is, one cannot be too picky about who shows up just to molest Giants fans.

[Goldsborough]

If California were given back to Mexico all of the Mexicans in California would jump the new border into Oregon.

The joke is on you man. The invaders have already long been here in Oregon.

[La Enchiladita]

McCourt should have never been allowed to buy the Dodgers. He has blown his way right through the MLB's debt service rule. He has turned the premiere franchise in the second largest media market into a complete joke from both a payroll standpoint and a fan experience one unless you are among the glitterati and the wannabes with private parking who pay for seats they plunked down in the old foul territory. With a decrepit 56K capacity stadium to fill in a vain attempt to service crushing debt interest, (none of which was incurred to win a pennant), and pay for a hefty divorce from a hag who is every bit the free spender he is, one cannot be too picky about who shows up just to molest Giants fans.

The Dodgers have become less and less about baseball, unless you watch on TV. This is the tragedy, that L.A. fans cannot safely enjoy major league baseball, a game we love so much. The Dodgers attendance will continue to decline until McCourt takes his FAILING ways elsewhere.

[Inyo-Mono]

Bttt.

[Smogger]

I won’t disagree with most of what you said. Except to point out that tailgating IS prohibited at Chavez Ravine, however unenforceable.

Nevertheless, the last time some was murdered at a ball park it was at Angel’s stadium, and it wasn’t even in the parking lot it was INSIDE the stadium.

[sergeantdave]

Just get some black guys throwing bricks and bottles and dragging white honkeys out of trucks, and LA’s finest and bravest will hop in their squads and drive home.

Hire Korean storeowners with rifles and shotguns to sit on rooftops. They’re more effective than LA cops and protect private property better.