Thursday, December 16, 1999
Police ready for millennium madness
Extra officers put on duty; training held
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The monumental partying expected this New Year's Eve means more police officers on Tristate streets, a few of them fresh from extra riot training.
Some revelers might even glimpse the National Guard in Newport.
From Butler County to central Kentucky, departments everywhere have spent extra time planning strategy for the night the world celebrates the end of 1999. Some are simply bringing in a few more people. Others have taken more serious steps, including ordering every officer to work and establishing special command centers.
“None of us really knows what's going to happen,” said Lt. Col. Bill Dorsey, spokesman for the Covington Police Department. “We just feel it's better to be safe than sorry. With as much forewarning as we've had, we'd really have egg on our faces if we did nothing.”
None of the officials buys into the world-ending theories being bandied about for the millennium. But they do think ringing in the year 2000 might very well include crazier — and potentially violent — celebrations.
Covington will have 29 extra officers on duty from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., including both assistant chiefs and the chief. That's on top of the about 15 officers regularly scheduled on a weekend.
Posts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Kentucky State Police took extra riot training this month to be ready in case of a significant problem. The highway patrol post in Hamilton will make sure the extra troopers on duty have enough riot gear too, Sgt. James Russell said.
“We believe that most problems will be limited to a few overzealous partygoers and other minor events,” said Capt. John Thorpe of the Kentucky State Police post in
LaGrange. “Nonetheless, thorough preparation enables us to meet whatever demands we may have.”
In Springboro, extra officers will be on duty, too. Same with the Boone County Sheriff's Department, the Cincinnati Police Division, Lebanon Police Department and others. Many departments, including Delhi Township, allowed no vacations. Hamilton's plans, to be announced Friday, are extensive, too, spokesman Brad Kraemer said.
The Newport Police Department's plans are particularly extensive because of the Peace Bell celebration that is expected to draw thousands. Every one of the department's 51 officers, including the chief, will be on duty. The city is handling the night as it does the annual Riverfest fireworks.
“I also sent a request for National Guard people, like we do for Riverfest,” Chief Tom Fromme said. “We'll use them at traffic posts.”
In Boone County, officials will activate the emergency operations center, which is usually reserved for responding to natural disasters like the 1997 flood.
“It's just in case we have something happen,” Sheriff Mike Helmig said. “So we'll have some heads together to put a plan into operation.”
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