Dodger fans who cause trouble will be arrested, Police Chief Beck and Mayor Villaraigosa say

L.A. officials on Friday announced a new "zero tolerance" crackdown at Dodger Stadium, saying those who cause trouble can expect to be arrested.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said the Dodgers have agreed to create a computer crime tracking similar to the LAPD's Comstat, which has been successfully used to study crime patterns and develop crime-fighting strategies.

The Dodgers will also pay for more LAPD officers to be out in force at Dodger games, Beck said, saying the officers would be a "constant presence" at games. Season ticket holders who cause problems could have their tickets revoked, he said.

"If you come to intimidate, to antagonize either other fans or fans of another team, we’re going to do one of two things," Beck said. "You’re going to be thrown out of the stadium or you’re going to get to go to jail."

"This is a zero tolerance policy. If you’re coming to Dodger Stadium to cause problem, I advise you to stay home," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

The comments come a week after a Giants fans suffered brain damage after he was beaten by two Dodger fans after opening day at Dodger Stadium. There is now a $150,000 reward in the case, and Villaraigosa urged the suspects to turn themselves in.

"What you did was wrong. It was despicable and senseless, unprovoked. But, make it a little better, by coming forward, by doing what will be looked at in hindsight as doing the civil, right thing when you’ve done wrong," he said.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said "we are going to redouble our efforts to make sure we fulfill our promise to the fans and all the citizens of the greater Los Angeles area. We are going to provide a safe, family friendly, fan friendly environment at Dodger stadium. I promise you that."

On Thursday, former Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton began to assemble a team of security experts to assess the situation at Dodger Stadium.

After coming under heated criticism for his muted response to an attack on opening day that left a Giants fan in a coma, McCourt on Wednesday hired Kroll Associates, the security consulting firm run by Bratton, to make recommendations on improving safety at the stadium.

Bratton, in an interview with The Times, said the team would be looking at a wide range of issues, including lighting in the parking lots, staffing levels of security personnel and the organization's policy on alcohol sales.

A recommendation to curb beer and liquor sales at games would cause a serious conundrum for McCourt, since they typically account for a large portion of profits at sporting venues.

Beck on Thursday announced a plan to significantly increase the number of police officers on patrol during games.

RELATED:

Dodgers hire former police chief Bratton

Giants fan sent text message saying he was "scared"

Reward for information about beating grows to $100,000

--Joel Rubin and Bill Shaikin

Photo: Suspects sought by the LAPD in the attack on Giants fan. Credit: LAPD

Comments

[Ray]

While they are at it, have ICE there too.

[Reserve Cop]

I am an LAPD Reserve Officer and was at the game as a spectator with my daughter. Had I not been in Dodger Blue I would have been just as afraid that one of the trouble-making Dodger "fans" was going to assault me. The environment, particularly around the walkways by the concessions and leaving the stadium in the parking lot was very tense and hostile by various groups of people in Dodger gear toward anyone in Giants gear. As I stood in line to buy food at one point, I was 10 feet from a guy who was challenging another to a fight very overtly. Security was not present and after several minutes of the guy pacing with clenched fists and yelling to get the other guy to come at him, I was at the point of wondering if I was going to have to break up a fight myself. Luckily, the other guy did not try to fight. When security did finally arrive, they did not even talk to the aggressor. And he was still nearby. I thought for certain his conduct would get him a one-way pass out of the stadium. "Zero tolerance" for any negative comments or actions is the only way things will change and I applaud the plan. But it should have happened long ago.

[Tony C]

I seriously doubt if LA thugs are intimidated by the Mayor or Police Department. San Francisco has the World Series
Championship Giants, but LA has world class thugs. Even Lakers fans took the cab driver out before they set his car on fire. The LAPD and Prosecutor are too busy hunting down real criminals like Lindsay Lohan. They don't have time to waste on murderers and thugs.

[John]

Send these trolls to jail. Grown men fighting about sports. SMH.

I was actually in the stadium wearing my Dodgers shirt when it happened. Here is the Dodgers shirt I was wearing: http://www.cafepress.com/damnpotholes

Anyway, I doubt those guys will come forward but I'm glad there will be more officers patrolling the stadium.

[TOTO]

Certain people, especially shrill blowhards at right-wing radio need to stop making this a race issue or a “border” issue. The thugs who committed this heinous crime are criminals who need to be caged. But did you make it a race issue, when that heavily armed criminal in Arizona shot that Congresswoman? Did we blame a whole group of people or culture for that senseless crime? No? Then don’t blame this crime on a particular race or culture either.

[Really]

"Dodger fans who cause trouble will be arrested", Police Chief Beck and Mayor Villaraigosa say--Sure they will....

[dw]

Yet another! added cost to the taxpayers that is related to illegal immigration - and the 1986 amnesty law. "That never was enforced properly"

[Long Time Dodgers Fan]

This is sooooo SAD!!!!

No wonder they took the Raiders away from us! Because of you idiots acting like 3 year olds who cannot control yourselves! Now all we need is to lose a baseball team and as much as I love the Dodgers, Dodger's Stadium and Dodger Dogs, I would love to have it all stripped away just to teach you idiots a lesson!! .....and I pray we don't get the new Football team they're talking about. Unfortunately, most Los Angelinos have no idea how to act like mature adults and don't deserve ANY Pro Team until they learn how to behave themselves!!! Maybe we should stop serving alcohol!!! How sad for those of us that know how to handle our liquor!

[Sean]

If beer prices at the stadium were reasonable, you wouldn't have as much pre-game binge drinking

[randy]

No we the people should not have to pay for police prescene at the stadium. That is McCourt's issue. Why should we the people dole out more overtime money better of a few drunks beating people up. The cops need to be out on the street, not watching a ball game and hitting on the women and talking on their cell phone and most of all not paying attention to what is going on. Let McCourt pay for this action, through all his divorce money so he can give some people some jobs in the area, people who will do the work and want to work. Do the right thing BECK! FRANK! BRATTON didn't you leave for New York for a terriorist job!

[Ben]

To be honest, I was really against having an anti-immigration law but with this event, and not to mention how the majority of the trouble makers during Laker championship run were of Latino decent. Sad to say, LA is looking more and more like Mexico. I guess you construe this to be racist statement but these are the facts. I understand Latinos have their good and bad people but it does appear many Latino families lack moral family values. Maybe this is because they are kids themselves when they are young. Statistically speaking a large number of Latinos do drop of school early. If the majority of Japanese people can act civilized under the worst living conditions, why can't the Latino community do the same. I have nothing against immigrants but as long as they can contribute to rebuilding America. We don't need any more cheap labor, we need scientist to create new products that will sell around the world and remain competitive. If we have Latinos who excel in school and can make an actual contribution, they let them stay. But for the drops out and gang bangers, lets send them out of here. True story, I was at a Chili's watching a game between Boston and LA. Two grown Hispanic Men was spewing vulgar language at a Boston female and her bf who were just trying to enjoy a dinner and enjoy the game. They themselves had kids around but yet they had no problem cussing in front of their kids and no problem letting their kids watch their dads act like violent jerks. These same kids will probably grow up to riot during a Laker parade or even beat Giant fan at Dodgers stadium.

[Mark]

Thank you Chief Beck and those Officers of the L.A.P.D. I know you stand by your word and justice will be served.

It took an incident where a mans life was almost lost for the focus of the Dodger organization to realize that fan safety and security is a weak link in their organization. Let the professionals deal with the drunk, unruly individuals and their criminal behaviors. Lock them up.

This is not the first time, historically this rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants is a long sporting tradition, on the field. But when hand to hand combat and personal attacks are involved the spirit of the rivalry is tainted. So why weren't the Dodgers prepared?

If you see something that's not right report it, take photos, use that smart phone to assist, follow them from afar and write down vehicle descriptions or plate numbers. Contact authorities.

People need to look out for one another, this young man is someone's father, son, husband, friend and brother. I am sure Bryan has come to the aid of many in their time of need that are alive today because of his commitment to his profession.

Everyone think about it, this could have been one of your family members.

My continued thoughts and prayers to Bryan Stow and Family, we in Los Angeles are here for you in your time of need. God's speed!

[dw]

Now there will never be football in LA - to costly to monitor all the gangbangers and their immature excessive machismo

[James Banks]

@Ralph....Dodger fans suck!

[phil]

Why did this take so long to happen? The answer is easy "Money".
Didn't I just hear Frank say last week that he was satified with security at Dodger Stadium. What happened Frank? You tried to get away with it again but this time the furor from the city "forced" you to open up your wallet and spend it on something besides another laundry room in Malibu. I won't be back to the Dodgers until Frank sells. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

[Jagexxx]

How about an alcohol-free seating section, with separate entrances/exits and parking?

[Joe Poe]

I wonder if American Indians ever began to generalize about the White Man -- or would that have been politically incorrect? As in "Sure, Brave Bear some of those white people are bad, but there's bad people in every group....you can't judge all white people on the actions of a few....blah, blah, blah...."

[YoGabba]

Every time I go to a Dodgers game, I am embarrassed by the fans screaming obscenities at BOTH teams' players. (especially the ones in the outfield seats). They have no class and obviously bad parenting.

I have never seen this type pf behavior at any other park I have visited. That is why I enjoy Angel stadium MUCH better.

[Dave]

From a first impression reading of the article, it is clear that this is a knee jerk PR reaction to what happened to Mr. Stow. The problem with reactions as such is that they rarely have a prolonged effect. While this may be a good first step, it is hardly a solution that will last long-- as soon as we forget about Mr. Stow, the enforcement effect will slowly dissipate. The overhead cost of continued police presence-- especially if McCourt is paying for it --will soon prove too burdensome and, consequently, police presence will diminish. This problem has run unchecked for so long that it will take an effort from fans, the Dodgers organization, and MLB to correct it. In the interest of not writing a 10 page exposition on how this can be corrected, I will say this much: fixing this problem is not as easy as ending beer sales early, and if you can't see why, you are as short sighted as McCourt.

For the record, I am hispanic (Mexican to be precise) and all the hispanic bashing, as a generalized group, is as grotesque as what took place on opening day.

[Marlena]

Like these Ahole low lifes give a crap about getting arrested - as evidenced by the overpopulation in jails and prisons - the vast majority are gangbanging thugs such as is the scary element at Dodger Stadium.

[Mister Chris]

Do not let them into the stadium to begin with and to hell with the ACLU.

[Cesar]

As much as I want everyone to be safe, I also don't want to be surrounded by LAPD and security as I watch the Dodgers play. This might deter fans from shouting, screaming, and booing opposing teams. I am all for safety, but I am against the extreme security measures that will most likely target certain fans.

[Calm Down!]

Why is everybody getting their panties in a bunch? Its a shame that these idiots committed this crime and I hope they get caught and prosecuted to fullest. However, this is a sporting event and theyre will always be heated rivalries. Its part of the competitive nature of sports. Add some alcohol to the mix and you will have some fights! What is left unmentioned is the fact the people do not exercise self control If you want to heckle the home team and their fans, deal with the consequences!!!!!Everyone knows that theirs a bunch of crazy people out there that do stupid stuff. Also, this is not a race issue, let keep it that way!

[derek]

So Mccourt is paying for the additional police. I hope he is paying for all the police.

[@TOTO]

Well said. Lets not make this a race issue!