Local law enforcement agencies are preparing for what they see as a potentially unruly and out-of-hand Halloween weekend in the neighborhoods surrounding the University.
The Eugene Police Department sent out a news release urging students and University community members to celebrate Halloween safely and responsibly this year. In the release, police stated that in anticipation of higher arrest volumes they will use the Springfield Municipal Jail in addition to the Lane County Jail in Eugene to ensure that they can arrest at maximum capacity for alleged offenses.
This statement comes slightly one month after what EPD identified as a “riot” that took place on the evening of Sept. 24 at the intersection of East 13th Avenue and Ferry Street. The incident resulted in police using tear gas against an estimated 400 people, many of whom were University students.
EPD Lt. Doug Mozan said the September incident was not the only reason for the ramped up show of force, but it had played into it.
“(The September riot) wasn’t the entire reason for it, because Halloween is happening on a weekend this year, and school is still in session,” Mozan said. “We’ll have a mobile arrest processing center, and we’ll be able take prisoners if we have to.”
Mozan also reiterated statements from the news release stating EPD would have assistance from other law enforcement agencies, including the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police.
In addition to the September incident, the release also referenced previously rowdy Halloween festivities that have become a feature of Eugene’s student community. EPD warned that it has beefed up its patrols and personnel for the weekend and will be particularly vigilant in the West and South University neighborhoods as well as downtown.   
Local residents and property managers have also been preparing for the evening’s potentially rowdy revelers. Carmen Von Klein, the property manager for Von Klein Properties in Eugene, said she distributed flyers to all of her tenants notifying them not to misbehave this weekend and to take pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns off of front porches.
“Things can happen, and pumpkins can be destroyed and thrown and used as projectiles,” Von Klein said. “The police are going to be out in force and they will arrest people.”
Von Klein’s main office is located near, but not on, the site of the Sept. 24 incident, and she emphasized that the houses responsible for the majority of that incident are not her property but just located near it.
The last major riots associated directly with Halloween occurred in 1997 and 1998, Mozan said.  
He defined a riot as not simply a gathering of people, but a gathering of people that engaged in violent and destructive behavior.
“If it were just a gathering of people, you would never be able to have a party in this town,” Mozan said. “We don’t care if people are out enjoying themselves.”
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