The Eugene Police Department had busy Friday and Saturday nights, handing out more than 75 citations in the West University neighborhood the weekend before Halloween.
EPD continued its focused presence, breaking up four parties and citing 39 people with minor in possession of alcohol. Twelve residents who hosted parties also received first response warnings and some received citations for allowing minors to consume alcohol.
In addition, EPD field activity — which monitors street activity in the neighborhood — cited four more for MIPs and wrote 20 citations for open container violations.
With Halloween around the corner, University officials, police authorities and community members met Friday to plan how to prevent another riot from occurring. Rioting occurred in the West University neighborhood on Halloween in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The task force also discussed other ways to entertain students this Thursday.
The holiday has been of great concern for EPD. Authorities heard rumors during the weekend about the threat of a riot Thursday, but Lt. Pete Kerns said that it hasn’t been verified.
“We hear rumors like this all the time,” he said.
“It’s common.”
EPD Special Operations Capt. Steve Swenson said he is worried a Halloween riot will occur because he thinks that the relationship between students and police has intensified.
“With the number of citations that we have been writing lately, a lot of animosity has occurred among students,” he said.
Swenson said he does not want students and police at odds with each other. He said EPD is thinking of ways to have more contact with students.
“We want to give the police a human face,” he said.
Patrol Capt. Eliva Williams said this Halloween, EPD will have all of its officers on duty, and added that there still will be a focused patrol in the West University neighborhood.
Meanwhile, EPD has continued to identify people associated with the September riot. On Oct. 23, a Springfield man, Paul Michael Slaven, 19, was arrested for his participation in burning a $6,378 University-owned golf cart.
Sheryl Eyster, assistant dean of the Office of Student Life, said the University has been trying to educate students about throwing responsible parties, and has looked into ways to provide more late-night events on campus. Officials have already extended the hours at the Student Recreation Center.
Eyster said University residence halls have programmed several events, while sororities, fraternities and student groups have volunteer activities planned. She said the University has been advertising about nonalcoholic Halloween activities that will take place in the community.