In an effort to prevent Halloween riots that have plagued campus-area neighborhoods in the past, Eugene police will strengthen patrols near campus this weekend.
Multiple police teams will concentrate on the west and south campus neighborhoods and other problem areas, Kerry Delf, Eugene Police Department spokeswomansaid.Concentrated patrols of campus neighborhoods are a response to past riots in the West University Neighborhood, including one on Halloween in 1998.
Because Eugene has not seen a riot in a while, authorities are preparing for the worst, said Eugene police officer Randy Ellis.
Involvement in a riot may seem like a “rite of passage” for some University students, he said.
“If you haven’t been involved in a riot in your four to five years at the UO, then it’s like you’re not completing your college education,” he said.
Officers will have no tolerance for alcohol- and party-related violations this weekend, Delf said, and party hosts and others caught breaking the law will be arrested or ticketed.
“They will not get off with a warning,” she said.
“If you’re a minor, you are not supposed to be drinking,” she said. “A lot of young people don’t take this to heart, violate the law and don’t think they will get caught.”
Party Patrols in the campus area occur nearly every weekend and usually consist of eight officers and a sergeant, said Ellis, who has patrolled campus neighborhoods for several years.
For Halloween weekend, staffing will be significantly increased, Delf said.
Officers can volunteer for Party Patrols and are usually paid overtime, Ellis said.
If a party gets out of control, the host is encouraged to call the police, Delf said. The police will shut the party down and may cite offenders.
Ellis said police generally won’t cite offenders when someone calls on themselves.
“People don’t realize how quickly they can lose control of a party,” he said.
Police can enter a private home if they see criminal activity occurring inside, he said.
Increased patrols will begin tonight and continue until Halloween. Police will be on foot, bicycles and in cars, Delf said.

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