LAPD crackdown at Dodger Stadium begins at tonight's game; half-price drinks canceled

The Los Angeles Police Department will be out in force Thursday night at Dodger Stadium for the first home game since authorities announced a "zero-tolerance" crackdown on rowdy behavior.

The beefed-up law enforcement presence comes after a Santa Clara paramedic was severely beaten at the Dodgers' home opener.

Fans can expect uniformed officers posted throughout the ballpark. Officials said the officers will be more aggressive about expelling or arresting people who cause trouble.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have scrapped a plan to sell half-priced alcoholic beverages at at six midweek day games this season.

"As we said last week, we wanted to take a look at all our policies regarding alcohol," Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch told The Times. "In taking a look, we decided it was the right thing to do."

The get-tough approach is one of several improvements the LAPD and Dodgers organization have promised.

The Dodgers plan to create a computer mapping and crime tracking system for the stadium that is similar to the one the LAPD has used for years to scrutinize crime patterns and hot spots throughout Los Angeles.

Improvements in surveillance and parking lot lighting are planned as well. And the Dodger organization has agreed to revoke the passes of season-ticket holders if they or their guests misbehaved.

Earlier this month, as fans left the stadium after the Dodgers' opening day game against the rival San Francisco Giants, two men attacked 42-year-old Bryan Stow from behind. Stow remains in a medically induced coma and his doctors say he may have suffered brain damage.

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16 investigators sift through pile of tips to find Bryan Stow's assailants

-- Richard Winton, Joel Rubin and Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Fans line up at a concession stand at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[AB]

Who the heck beats up a paramedic??? Why do sporting events always have to attract so many big dumb oafs?

[adriana]

I agree that the alcohol is not to blame 100% but it does play a major part of the violence inside & outside Dodgers Stadium. The truth is, our ballpark has been taken over by gangs & thugs. This is due to the lack of real security at our stadium, we need to have everyone over 18 years old present their ID and scan the ID to see if these people have outstanding warrants or if they are on parole/probation. It may sound extreme but the situation has gotten extreme and our children are no longer safe at a Dodger game. An even better solution would be my recommendation above in addition to enforcing a dress code, we have dress codes for work, school and since a few thugs are ruining it for all of us, we need a dress code even for a ball game! I for sure would be happy to show my ID as well as my husbands' ID, we have nothing to hide and we want to feel safe when taking our kids to the games! We are responsible adults and would like to also be able to enjoy a beer at the ballgame!
Prayers for the Stow family, and to the LA Times & the media, don't stop putting the sketch from those 2 monsters that beat Bryan Stow, they need to be caught!!!!!

[Jeff Wells]

Boycott the Dodgers! Make them play to an empty ball park! Do away with half-price beer AND gang bangers in the park!

[Ralph]

Richard in SF. hahaha! if you don't follow baseball, you shouldn't be commenting about it. Joe Torrey? lol!
AB, I don't think they asked what his occupation was before they beat him.

[Common Sense]

Boycott Dodger stadium.

[player1]

Dodgers need to open up the gates @3pm instead of the present time 1pm thats were the problem lies by the time the game starts usually around 7pm those who cause trouble are already drunk or buzzed...........

[player1]

wwwwwwwww

[jake]

This isn't going to change the fact the security staff at the stadium is scared of the gang bangers. Some poor usher making minimum wage isn't going to cause problems for the shaved-headed, tattooed, guys who are the real issue. Other stadiums serve beer, they have drunk, unruly fans, Dodger Stadium has a GANG PROBLEM and that's not going to change until the Dodgers starts banning those with gang tattoos from the stadium.

LAPD will arrest some normal, average guys for public drunkenness, and nothing will be done to address the REAL issue with gang members at the stadium, because those are the guys with a lot of money and nothing to do during the weekday games but buy a bunch of beer.

[Think123]

The same morons who beat up that poor man will now have other places to cause trouble, since the force will be enforcing martial law at a ball park.

[aholee]

Oh great now a war on baseball fans.