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The cost of bringing in additional security to monitor students after the Red Sox won the World Series topped $1,000 and included state and local police as well as a mobile command center pictured above.

Extra security during World Series celebration cost URI Police $1,100

By: Andy Blais

Posted: 11/14/07

11/14/07 - After the Boston Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies in the World Series last month, the University of Rhode Island's Campus Police was ready for any overzealous celebration.

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."

He continued saying that he even saw a few students carrying brooms to symbolize the Red Sox's four game sweep.

"We were fortunate that there was only one clinching game to be played," Baker said. Adding that if there had been more, Baker said it would have become a drain on URI and other police departments.

"Most of the people that worked it felt that it was worth it," he said.

Baker thought that the peaceful gathering of students was not simply because of the police force, but because of the circumstances of the series. Baker said he also believed that it was a peaceful display because it wasn't the first time the Red Sox had won.

Baker and Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Dougan began discussing the possibility of the Red Sox winning the World Series about a week before the series.

Baker does not anticipate a similar situation if the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl.

"The history is that there hasn't been any problems," he said. He continued saying that there would perhaps be heightened security for a game with the New York Giants or Dallas Cowboys.

In the end, Baker was happy with the way that the World Series celebrations played out across the URI campus.

"Overall, with the number of people out celebrating, 99 percent did it responsibly," he said.