A police car is seen outside the Tempe Police Department headquarters in Tempe, Oct. 16, 2014. (Photo by Ben Moffat)Approximately 10,000 ghosts, cowboys, princesses, superheroes, zombies, movie stars and pirates are expected to descend on downtown Tempe on Friday, looking to show off their costumes and have a spook-filled night.
Despite not having an organized Halloween event, Mill Avenue draws attendees of all ages and outfits, ranging from sweet to downright terrifying.
Tempe Police, combined with neighboring agencies and businesses in the area, are taking precautions to ensure that the scares remain all in good fun and prevent anything truly horrifying, like driving under the influence.
Tempe Police spokeswoman Molly Enright said police are partnering with neighboring law enforcement agencies, including the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and police forces from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and Scottsdale to help patrol areas of heavy traffic.
“Additional patrol units and motorcycle officers will be visible in our neighborhoods and on city streets, deployed to keep trick-or-treaters safe and curb driving under the influence,” Enright said in an email.
Enright said the increased patrol numbers will begin Thursday night and stretch across the entire weekend as part of the Halloween DUI task force.
Enforcement and patrol over the weekend will be similar to police presence at festivals and other events that Tempe frequently hosts, Enright said.
“On any given weekend, Tempe patrol officers, motor officers, mounted officers, K-9 officers and bike officers routinely engage in patrol duties that include thousands of visitors,” Enright said. “The number of Tempe guests and visitors to the downtown area likely will remain high through the weekend. Tempe police welcome everyone to the festivities and have planned accordingly.”
Enright said Mill Avenue is expected to be more crowded than usual throughout the weekend, but officials are prepared to handle the crowds, even those that may be undead.
“Typically Tempe events run smoothly and safely," she said. "This is a demonstration of planning and cooperation between Tempe residents, visitors, businesses, police, fire, medical, rescue, public works, parks and special events staff all working together toward the goal of keeping everyone safe while they are having fun in Tempe.”
A variation of the types of patrols can also increase staffing effectiveness during a crowded event, she said.
“Mounted officers (on horseback) are ‘force multipliers,’” Enright said. “A single mounted police officer has significant advantage in terms of visibility, assertiveness and speed, and can equal the capability of 10 officers on foot, particularly during fluid, dynamic and volatile situations with large numbers of people. A single mounted officer can approach, assess, act and assert effective control over escalating situations, with the goal of preventing serious injury or escalation of violence.”
Bars and restaurants on Mill are also doing their part to prepare for a large crowd.
Hartley Rodie, a managing partner at Gringo-Star Street Bar, said he is expecting an even crazier night than last year because Halloween falls on a Friday.
“Last year, the party was completely packed, but we are expecting this year to somehow top that," Rodie said. "We think that our happy hour is going to be absolutely packed, and by 8 o’clock, it will probably be a total zoo in here, but we are really excited. This is something that we bar guys really love. It’s going to be great.”
Rodie said the bar is planning to have a larger crowd all weekend to celebrate Halloween and will be hosting a live DJ on Saturday night.
If students are planning to hit the bars on Halloween night, Rodie advises they arrive early, before lines get too long.
ASU Police spokesman Sgt. Daniel Macias said he hopes all ASU students have a good time on Halloween, but advises that they enjoy it responsibly.
“If you are going to a party, make sure that you have a designated driver if you are over 21 and plan to drink,” Macias said. “If you are underage, abide by the law and don’t drink any alcohol, and if you are old enough, make sure that you are responsible with your drinking.”
Macias said because Halloween is a Friday, the department is expecting to see a higher volume of calls throughout the weekend.
“Every Friday, we team up with Tempe Police on what we call Party Patrol,” Macias said. “We respond to a lot of calls, mostly about parties, in the area around ASU campus. So this year, because it falls on a weekend, we can expect to see an increase in amount of officers and calls.”
Macias said because Mill Avenue can be filled with a huge crowd and people in costume, it is important to be aware of your surroundings.
If you are a victim of a crime or see one committed, Macias said it is important to remember identifying factors.
“If you report a crime and say, ‘He was dressed like Yoda,’ that is still an identifier that police can use,” Macias said. “It is important to remember any identifying qualities, even if they are about a costume.”
Bar owners take this one step further, Rodie said. Patrons will not be allowed inside the bar if their face cannot be identified at the door.
“If you are wearing a mask and you can take it off, you will be allowed in,” Rodie said. “But for people wearing face paint or other things, we need to be able to check your ID and see your face, so we know we aren’t breaking any laws.”
Macias said while enforcement on Mill and throughout the ASU area will be designed to keep students safe, common sense ideas can be the easiest way to avoid trading that prisoner costume for an actual orange jumpsuit.
“We want all of our students to be able to have fun and enjoy Halloween, and we want them to do so safely and responsibly," he said.
Reach the reporter at cvanek@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @CorinaVanek
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