They hope KC will ‘behave responsibly’ for Super Bowl. But KCPD is ready for anything
Kansas City police are optimistic Kansas Citians will “behave responsibly” on Super Bowl Sunday when the Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers.
But just in case things do take a turn, KCPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said at least 100 additional officers will be on the clock.
So if you don’t want to be arrested, don’t drink and drive or shoot off celebratory gunfire.
It’s not an all-hands-on-deck situation, he said, but they will have officers throughout the city ready to respond.
“We’re focusing on how we can provide the safest experience for everybody in our city,” Becchina said, “whether they choose to stay home or whether they go out and about to an establishment or one of our entertainment districts to be with friends and family.”
Anything, anywhere
It’s not as if Kansas City hasn’t had its problems.
Hours after the Chiefs beat the Titans and won the AFC Championship on Jan. 19, one woman was killed and 15 others were injured when a gunman opened fire on a line outside a Kansas City nightclub before he was slain by a private security guard.
Becchina said there won’t necessarily be a special emphasis on nightclubs on Sunday as a result, but police will focus on entertainment districts. He said officers will be ready to respond “to anything that comes up pretty much anywhere.”
Becchina said police are prepared for any rioting as well. He said “highly trained officers” will be out likely wearing their normal duty uniforms, not their riot gear. However, Becchina said, they will have access to that equipment.
People in KC’s entertainment areas like the Power & Light District and Westport will see an increased police presence on Sunday that will be similar to, if not higher than, most weekend nights, Becchina said. He said the entertainment districts will also employ off-duty officers.
The biggest concerns for police
Becchina said people who go to an entertainment district or a Super Bowl party should make transportation plans before leaving home and before drinking alcohol.
“Don’t make that plan in the fourth quarter of the game when there are emotions on the line,” Becchina said.
DUI enforcement officers, plus extra traffic and patrol officers, will be out on Sunday to watch for impaired drivers, he said.
Police have a message about celebratory gunfire as well, Becchina said. Bullets fall back to the ground close to the same speed they leave the gun at, which can damage property and kill people.
“It is illegal to do that,” Becchina said. “It’s not funny, it’s not cool, it’s not exciting. It’s none of those things.”
Becchina said if people do see someone grabbing a gun to celebrate, they should try to talk that person out of it.
“That one conversation could be the difference between somebody firing a fatal round and somebody not,” Becchina said.
‘Behave responsibly’
Celebrations like this aren’t new to Kansas City, he said. During the parade for the Royals, who won the World Series in 2015, police reported three arrests. Up to 800,000 people were there.
Kansas City has also hosted the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship 18 times since it began in 1997.
In several ways, Becchina said, KCPD’s response looks similar to those events.
Becchina said they don’t have any plans to grease light poles with Crisco or hydraulic fluid as Philadelphia police did in 2018 in an attempt to keep Super Bowl-crazed party people off of city property.
“We’re confident the citizens of our city will behave responsibly and it will be a happy experience,” Becchina said. “That’s what we’re hopeful for.”
Nothing has been finalized for a potential victory parade, Becchina said. But he said police will be ready.
After all — they want to see a win, too.
This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 4:10 PM.
