Planning for & Managing Large University Events where AlcoholIS Present

The “Block Party” Off-campus Bloomsburg University students have for

decades hosted an unsanctioned day long outdoor festival that has traditionally taken place on the last Saturday of April. The event revolves around a “party” type atmosphere where significant amounts of alcohol are consumed.

Hundreds of Bloomsburg University students and many

other university students and non-students from surrounding states will visit and party through the weekend, off campus in the Town of Bloomsburg.

Social Host - Gathering Ordinance Anyone who plans on

having an outdoor congregation of persons for social interaction where alcoholic beverages are served or consumed and which is attended at any time by more than 150 persons, regardless of age is required to obtain a permit from the Town of Bloomsburg.

Large Outdoor Social Gathering Ordinance #928 – Specifics

A permit is required when 150 or more are present at a BU student sponsored event where alcohol is present or consumed

Application must be filed no less than 14 days in advance of the event

Criminal Violations, Liquor Code Violations and town ordinance violations with the last 5 years may be grounds to deny issuing a permit.

Large Outdoor Social Gathering #928 “Requirements”

Event shall last no longer than 8 hours One security person for every 50 persons No glass bottles or containers permitted One portable toilet for every 100 persons One 30 cubic yard dumpster per 1000 people The premises must be cleaned up by 10 AM

the following day Cash bond $500 plus application fee

Enforcement of the Ordinance

Any person violating the Ordinance shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $600.00 to the Town of Bloomsburg, along with costs of prosecution, or to be imprisoned for not more than ten (10) days or both.

The Police Department of the Town of Bloomsburg shall have the authority to disperse persons, upon notice, who attend a Regulated Social Gathering for which no permit has been obtained. Failure to disperse shall be a violation of the Ordinance.

Permits Distributed 2009-2010

Locations where the Social Gathering Permits were issued for Block Party 2009.

There were No Social Gathering Permits issued in 2010.

Student – Police Collaboration

The week of the Block Party, uniformed officers go door to door distributing letters on hosting a safe event.

The letter reminded students of existing state and local laws.

Effects of Having No Permits or Large Parties in 2010 Groups and gatherings were smaller making

the management of these gatherings easier Events were spread out over a larger area One area had two (2) large groups gather

around a band. Police and property owners dispersed both locations at 5PM with no resistance

The lack of permits worked in favor of police

Bloomsburg Police Department’s Mission

Is to Protect Life and Property, to Serve the Public with Integrity and Professionalism and to achieve an Atmosphere of Mutual Respect and Cooperation with All Citizens.

Since 1997 police have provided a highly visible and professional presence with the intent of preserving law and order during the weekend events.

Preventative Measures The Bloomsburg Police Department is the primary law

enforcement agency providing 24 hour-7 day a week, law enforcement services to the citizens of the Town of Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

For this event we requested assistance from 16 neighboring municipal police agencies as well as the State Police. Departments from seven (7) counties sent uniformed police officers.

As part of our goal to maintain law and order during this years event, we placed more emphasis on enforcement than previous years. This was no longer just a “Safety Event” but an Enforcement Event.

It was projected through this significant effort that injury and property damage during the event were prevented or reduced.

Planning for a Large Event

Begins Months In Advance With Many Agencies University Student and Greek Organizations-Forums State Police, Liquor Enforcement, Vice, Mounted Unit,

Motorcycle Patrol, Patrol & Station Command & Aviation Emergency Management & 911 Center Prison System, On-Call Judges, Sheriff’s Dept. Transport Hospitals, TBH & GMC both increase staffing in preparation

for a large mass casualty event Code Enforcement – Inspections Fire Department – saturate all dumpsters Ambulance – provide staffing for the event and equipment

Planning (continued) On call District Attorney Alcohol Beverage Servers – All Licensed Establishments

Contacted via a letter, phone and a personal visit by police Media & Social Networking Sites Bloomsburg Public Works A detailed Operations Plan was generated for the event Student Housing Property Owners – police clerks called

student housing property owners asking them to be visible Refuse Haulers – were contacted to empty dumpsters Town of Bloomsburg Recycling Penn Dot Highway Safety Mental Health & The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

At what price? The costs of Block Party in 2009

exceeded $18,000 for municipal officers. These figures did not include the cost of State Agencies

The cost for the 2010 Block Party: $16,765.51, this did not include state agencies, fuel, equipment, meals and ancillary costs

However money is not the only thing lost during this event. The town gives up its streets, cleanliness, safety, and sometimes

even its property.

Litter

With thousands of students, and even more empty beer containers, trash is certainly an issue.

In 2010 university students were out and about the following morning cleaning up. The town provided garbage bags.

Prison inmate community service workers were also out of prison cleaning up.

Arrests During Block Party Weekend 2009

Underage Alcohol Violations: 48 Traffic Warnings: 42 Open Container Violations: 21 Disorderly Conduct: 17 Traffic: 12 Criminal Arrests: 10 Public Drunkenness: 9 DUI: 3 Criminal Mischief: 1 Scattering Rubbish: 1 Noise Ordinance Violation: 1 DRE Evaluations: 1

Total: 123

2010 Block Party Arrests

Beginning Thursday 04/15/2010 Party Bust through Sunday 04/18/2010:

Underage Drinking: 75 Open Container Violations: 57 Public Drunkenness: 19 Disorderly Conduct: 22 DUI: 10 Harassment: 3 Littering: 3 Criminal Mischief: 2 Narcotics Violations: 2 Fake/False ID’s: 2 Resisting Arrests: 1 Post Event Arrests using Social Media Sites: 10 (Task Force

Established with University Officials to View Social Media Sites) Total Arrests: 206

Arrests by Agency

Bloomsburg University Police: 27 Pennsylvania State Police: 15 PSP/Liquor Enforcement: 27 Bloomsburg Police & Other

Assisting Municipal Agencies:137

TOTAL ARRESTS: 206

Arrest by Date & TimeBlock Party Citations

1 1 1

5

1 1 1 1

7

10

7

23

15

9

11

9

8

2

3

1

2

1

0

5

10

15

20

25

Date/Time of Issuance

Nu

mb

er

of

Cit

ati

on

s

Block Party Citation Locations

5

1

3

8

1

3

6

2

5

29

19

2 21

109

56

21

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Locations Where Citations Issued

Nu

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er o

f C

itat

ion

s Is

sued

Arrests

Majority of Arrests are Summary Violations Of the 206 arrests, the average fine is $200-$300 Of the 206 arrests 86% are out of town students

visiting Bloomsburg or non-students Bloomsburg University is notified of all arrests Bloomsburg Police enter all arrests/citations into a

computer and forward arrested student’s parents a letter notifying them of the arrest.

Injuries Numerous people

received minor injuries from glass/bottles, hospital ER visits during the event: 57

No Police Officer injuries, no patrol vehicle damage or loss of equipment.

Non-Alcohol Events Held In Bloomsburg During Block Party

Students could attend non-alcoholic events that were held on the upper campus & at Honeysuckle Student Apartments. The complex had food, a DJ, a Pie Eating contest, and a few other things for students to do in a safe environment. This offers students an alternative to going out and drinking, which some students claim is the only thing to do.

Preparation for Potential Incidents-Violations PACC 6308 Underage consumption PAVC 3802 DUI ORD 846, 6-502 Open Container ORD 857 Large Outdoor Social Gatherings PACC 5505 Public Drunkenness PACC 5503 Disorderly Conduct PACC 5502 Failure to Disperse PACC 5507 Obstructing Highways PACC 5501 Riot (Police Conduct Crowd Control Training for

All Agencies) PACC 5104 Resisting Arrest PACC 6501 Scattering Rubbish PACC 5101 Obstructing Administration of law

Arrests

Citations were liberally issued on site whenever practical. Pre-printed citations were available for Underage & Open

Container violations. Photographs of all offenders taken when possible. Positive

ID’s were obtained. Police provided PBT’s for violators when needed. Each officer

is issued a PBT. (Preliminary breath test) Foot/bicycle patrol officers provided a backpack with a PBT,

camera and citations and assigned to specific areas. Sheriff Department’s prisoner transport van was utilized to

transport multiple arrestees to the on-call judge.

Areas of Responsibilities

On duty Bloomsburg Officers were assigned to handle calls for police service.

Officers working the “Block Party” detail were to handle most incidents in their assigned areas.

Officers were instructed to remain in their assigned areas unless specifically requested to do otherwise.

Bloomsburg University Sober Room

For BU Students only Provided for those BU students with

high % of alcohol. Student is observed & monitored in a safe environment until they are capable of caring for themselves and not an endanger to them self or others.

Medical Services

Tactical EMS (GMC provided full staff of physicians and medics in town)

Support Law Enforcement. Available to care for Injured or ill officers.

Assist with Decontamination of offenders as needed.

Will not replace 911 EMS

Communication

With so many police agencies, communicating with each officer becomes problematic.

Bloomsburg Police established additional mobile base stations with common frequencies and staffed

Bloomsburg PD portable radios were issued as needed to assisting agencies

Collateral Attention-Problems

Chief Leo V. Sokoloski 301 E. 2nd Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 lsokoloski@bloomsburgpa.org (570) 784-6779

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