GaryMrMets
10-21-2005, 01:22 AM
Chicago Police Plan Tight Series Security
By MEGAN REICHGOTT
.c The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) - Officials will establish a ``security bubble'' around U.S. Cellular Field for the World Series this weekend, dispatch thousands of police officers, search vehicles and crack down on everything from ticket scalping to illegal parking businesses.
``While there is no credible indication that the World Series is a target for a terrorist act, we must plan accordingly,'' Chicago Police Superintendent Philip Cline said Thursday. ``That's why we have brought in our federal partners from the FBI, ATF, Secret Service and U.S. Marshals to assist us.''
The multimillion dollar effort includes a no-fly zone over U.S. Cellular Field before, during and after Saturday and Sunday's games. It also calls for authorities to monitor security cameras already in the community and cameras in mobile police vehicles stationed near the park.
Fans driving to U.S. Cellular Field must show police their tickets to get into the ``bubble,'' which extends about a block on every side of the stadium, said Neil Sullivan, deputy director for Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
``If you are on foot, you will be checked,'' Sullivan said. ``If you are a fan and you have a ticket, you need your ticket with you.''
City and team officials want to avoid a repeat of embarrassing security moments, both on and off the field, in recent Chicago sports history.
Thousands of people were arrested during rioting that followed the Chicago Bulls' six straight NBA championships. In 1992, after the team's second title, more than 340 businesses were looted, several fires were started and cabs were overturned in violence that caused nearly $10 million in damages.
In September 2002 a shirtless father and his teenage son ran onto the field in the ninth inning of a White Sox game and attacked Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, punching and kicking him. Seven months later, a man ran onto the field during a White Sox game against the Royals and tried to tackle umpire Laz Diaz.
Cline doesn't anticipate any such trouble. His police department is used to coordinating security for large events such as the World Cup and baseball's All-Star game without any problems, he said.
Inside the ballpark, security guards - all off-duty Chicago and state police officers - are positioned at both ends of each dugout, in the bullpens and elsewhere on the field during games.
``We feel like we have the best security in the world,'' White Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert said.
Carlos Rodriguez has lived and worked near the ballpark for four years. The 22-year-old said the neighborhood's atmosphere during the playoffs was upbeat and happy.
``It's great, everyone was in a party mood and we never had any incidents,'' he said. ``It was just a party long overdue.''
Officials also warned that the city would deploy workers from various departments to crack down on illegal ticket scalpers, people operating illegal parking garages and those selling merchandise without proper authorization.
Dan Mullin, a spokesman for Major League Baseball security, warned fans not to purchase tickets from scalpers outside the stadium, saying that major events such as the World Series draw a large number of scalpers. Some of them, he said, sell counterfeit tickets, the quality of which is improving.
10/20/05 17:13 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By MEGAN REICHGOTT
.c The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) - Officials will establish a ``security bubble'' around U.S. Cellular Field for the World Series this weekend, dispatch thousands of police officers, search vehicles and crack down on everything from ticket scalping to illegal parking businesses.
``While there is no credible indication that the World Series is a target for a terrorist act, we must plan accordingly,'' Chicago Police Superintendent Philip Cline said Thursday. ``That's why we have brought in our federal partners from the FBI, ATF, Secret Service and U.S. Marshals to assist us.''
The multimillion dollar effort includes a no-fly zone over U.S. Cellular Field before, during and after Saturday and Sunday's games. It also calls for authorities to monitor security cameras already in the community and cameras in mobile police vehicles stationed near the park.
Fans driving to U.S. Cellular Field must show police their tickets to get into the ``bubble,'' which extends about a block on every side of the stadium, said Neil Sullivan, deputy director for Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
``If you are on foot, you will be checked,'' Sullivan said. ``If you are a fan and you have a ticket, you need your ticket with you.''
City and team officials want to avoid a repeat of embarrassing security moments, both on and off the field, in recent Chicago sports history.
Thousands of people were arrested during rioting that followed the Chicago Bulls' six straight NBA championships. In 1992, after the team's second title, more than 340 businesses were looted, several fires were started and cabs were overturned in violence that caused nearly $10 million in damages.
In September 2002 a shirtless father and his teenage son ran onto the field in the ninth inning of a White Sox game and attacked Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, punching and kicking him. Seven months later, a man ran onto the field during a White Sox game against the Royals and tried to tackle umpire Laz Diaz.
Cline doesn't anticipate any such trouble. His police department is used to coordinating security for large events such as the World Cup and baseball's All-Star game without any problems, he said.
Inside the ballpark, security guards - all off-duty Chicago and state police officers - are positioned at both ends of each dugout, in the bullpens and elsewhere on the field during games.
``We feel like we have the best security in the world,'' White Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert said.
Carlos Rodriguez has lived and worked near the ballpark for four years. The 22-year-old said the neighborhood's atmosphere during the playoffs was upbeat and happy.
``It's great, everyone was in a party mood and we never had any incidents,'' he said. ``It was just a party long overdue.''
Officials also warned that the city would deploy workers from various departments to crack down on illegal ticket scalpers, people operating illegal parking garages and those selling merchandise without proper authorization.
Dan Mullin, a spokesman for Major League Baseball security, warned fans not to purchase tickets from scalpers outside the stadium, saying that major events such as the World Series draw a large number of scalpers. Some of them, he said, sell counterfeit tickets, the quality of which is improving.
10/20/05 17:13 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.