Cincinnati police on Tuesday called for more patrols and an earlier closing time for next year's Black Family Reunion to help avoid a repeat of the primarily youth-related violence that occurred at last weekend's event.

        The department's event planning unit sent a report to the police chief Tuesday recommending the annual Reunion festivities end at 7 p.m., rather than 10 p.m., and that more officers — in cruisers and perhaps even riding Metro buses — be added to work the two days of festival held at Sawyer Point.

        On Saturday night, when at least 150 youths leaving the Reunion site caused disruptions downtown and on buses leaving the area, 52 police personnel were working the event. Nine people — one adult and eight juveniles — were arrested that night, six at the Reunion site and three in the downtown business district. Most of the charges were disorderly conduct.Sunday night, there were six more arrests in the business district after the Reunion ended, mostly for curfew violations.

        The report also detailed how chemical irritant was used twice Saturday night: once on a group of five youths who, police said, were assaulting another boy in front of the Rock Bottom Brewery on Fountain Square; the other time on a youth who tried to flee police at Sawyer Point after he was seen wildly swinging folding chairs.

        Police used a similar tact in recommendations following Jammin' on Main in 1997, after police in riot gear were forced to disperse rowdy concertgoers who pelted officers with bottles, chairs and other items the previous year. Eleven people were arrested in 1996.

        The next year, attendance was limited, hours were adjusted and beer was cut off early.

        Cassandra Robinson, who helped organize the Black Family Reunion, said Tuesday she hadn't seen the report from the police event-planning unit. But she said she didn't think it would be difficult for both sides to come to terms.

        Regarding the need for additional officers, Ms. Robinson said: “That's their (Cincinnati Police) call. We always leave that up to them, anyway.”

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