NCJ Number
211149
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 72 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2005 Pages: 74-76,78,80
Date Published
August 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Based on policies and procedures derived from its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the Durham Police Department (New Hampshire) has been effective in preventing the property damage and injuries often associated with "celebratory riots," which are sometimes, but not always, associated with sporting events.
Abstract
Celebratory riots combine the volatile ingredients of alcohol abuse, immaturity, overzealousness, and a mob mentality. Such riots typically involve attempts to destroy public and private property. The CALEA manual has a chapter that provides guidelines for the formulation of strategies to address occasional significant threats to public safety, such as celebratory riots. Durham, NH is host to the University of New Hampshire and approximately 12,000 students. When the University of New Hampshire's men's hockey team made it to the "Frozen Four" in the National College Athletic Association national hockey championship, the Durham Police Department (DPD) drew upon the CALEA manual to prepare for the eventuality of a celebratory riot. The 19 DPD officers worked in partnership with the 22 campus police officers and officers from nearby agencies under mutual aid agreements to develop a plan for preventing a celebratory riot. Police teams were formed under the supervision of DPD or campus police. Each team was given the primary responsibility of moving crowds in its assigned area; secondary goals involved maintaining control over a specific location. Other issues addressed were communications among personnel, procedures for making and processing arrests, the use of horses and motorcycles, and the use of riot gear. When the University of New Hampshire hockey team lost to the University of Minnesota in the national championship game, the celebratory riot lasted approximately 2 hours and produced 87 arrests. Police de-escalation of the riot began in a structured and methodical manner, preventing property damage and injuries.