Police say riots unlikely

A riot of the kind that occurred in the aftermath of the Los Angeles Lakers victory celebration is not likely to happen at Cal State Long Beach, University Police Lt. Stan Skipworth said. 

In the event of an emergency, CSULB police could call upon officers from the Long Beach Police Department as well as other nearby CSU campuses.

"We have their full support for anything anyone has ever dreamed of [doing]," Skipworth said. "In cases when they need to be utilized, we're very prepared." 

Campus police thoroughly investigate campus events in advance so that they understand any potential problems, Skip-worth said, noting he and other investigators study a group's politics, past conflicts and history.

Campus police have final say on what security precautions must be taken for special campus events, such as Beach Blast '99, which was headlined by the alternative band Smashmouth.

Both Skipworth and campus Chief of Police Jack Pearson oversee the events. 

"There's no set schedule," Skip-worth said of deciding what bands play and what bands do not. "Whether alcohol is served, the size of the crowd, the date, facility and prior organization" all assist in deciding a potential concert's fate. 

The event's organizers and people from groups such as Student Orientation Advising and Registration, Associated Senate Inc., and the University Student Union assist in giving concert information to give to the police. 

"They handle most of the information," he said. "I just do approval." Plans are then made for security and staffing. 

When prices are charged for campus concerts, the money goes toward underwriting the process, said Precious Robinson, program coordinator of the University Student Union. "We're not making money on the concerts. If we do come out on top, the money is recycled back into the programming fund." 

University Police currently does not patrol noontime concerts. 
"Our noontime concerts have limited publicity and our students 99.5 percent of the time are great," Robinson said. "The notorious students are the off 
Campus ones," she said.

A seven-member voting board determines the noontime bands that play.

The Special Olympics Southern California, held on campus June 16-18, was the last time extra officers were needed for an event, Skipworth said. 

"We were making sure the athletes had support. If they were disorientated or lost, we commanded the post. We helped with ground and faculty support and coordinated response. If there was a remote possibility something would go wrong, we were there for that too," he said.

"We assume a leadership role," Skipworth said. "We provide full support."