Police On Possibility Of Super Bowl Rioting: #Don'tBeADonkey
DENVER (CBS4/AP) — Denver police are rooting for a Broncos Super Bowl victory as much as anyone, but they are urging fans keep the postgame revelry in check.
Extra officers, many working on their days off, will be patrolling areas notorious for rowdy crowds on Sunday, Cmdr. Rick Kyle said. Without revealing specifics, Kyle said Friday that police have learned lessons from past Super Bowl wins that ended with riots, property damage and arrests.
"Certain people use that as an excuse to act out. I personally can't understand it. I believe in celebrating responsibility having a good time respecting other people's property," said Kyle.
Fans rioted after Denver's Super Bowl victories in 1998 and 1999, setting bonfires, breaking windows and flipping cars. Both years, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Police have urged downtown business owners to serve drinks in plastic cups, rather than glass bottles, and suggested bolting down their patio furniture. People looted stores and ripped down traffic signs that they used as battering rams to break windows after the Broncos' 1999 win against the Atlanta Falcons.
Fast Frame, located in Lodo, has hired a security company for the night. How long they will patrol the area depends on the Broncos outcome.
"If we were to win they will come and stay all night and if we lose they will come every 30 minutes to check on the store," said Fast Frame owner Jarrod Perrott.
The store has been targeted in the past with Broncos memorabilia stolen from the front window.
"It's very important to us that everybody be able to celebrate in a safe environment," Kyle said.
The department juxtaposed scenes of the hooliganism with more peaceful celebrations in a new social campaign with the hashtag #Don'tBeADonkey, featuring a video by former Bronco Ed McCaffrey.
"As you know, the Broncos are heading to their eighth championship, so let's all act like we've been there before. Please celebrate responsibly," McCaffrey says.
Fort Collins, home of Colorado State University, will have extra police on the city's streets during game against the Carolina Panthers.
Officers also are reminding CSU students that they can be expelled for a year, in addition to facing criminal charges, if they are caught rioting either by officers or security or cellphone video.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
