Spring Break
Extra security during World Series celebration cost URI Police $1,100
Andy Blais
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
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Instead, the police dealt with a few minor incidents such as garbage can fires and one Dumpster fire. The "riot" that students had predicted turned out to be a simple gathering of students celebrating the end of an exciting season.
Maj. Stephen Baker said the total cost to his department was $1,100 in overtime charges. Baker said that there were 14 URI officers on that night, whereas usually six officers are on duty Sunday nights.
"It was because people wanted to celebrate responsibly," Baker said about the success of that evening. "If people were to want to do otherwise, I hope that they saw us and didn't."
There were also several officers from other departments on campus that evening. South Kingstown Police sent a sergeant and two officers, the Rhode Island State Police sent four officers and two cruisers and Charlestown Police sent one officer and its Mobile Command Unit to Kingston.
This pooling of police forces is known as mutual aid, which departments offer to neighboring forces to provide help during more important and volatile situations. This additional help was of no additional cost for the university.
Baker said that no arrests were made during the post-game celebration because of the presence of law enforcement. The URI Police split its force up with six officers on foot and five cruisers that circled campus.
The Mobile Command Unit from the Charlestown Police Department was parked in the parking lot across from URI Health Services. There Baker, Kingston Fire Chief Nate Barrington and several other officers monitored the situation and made sure everything ran smoothly.
Baker said the officers on duty were able to see the Red Sox while in the command unit. Baker explained that after they won the series, "It was pretty neat to see all the kids coming out of their dorms."
