Education over enforcement drives down gameday citations at Hawkeye football games

IOWA CITY — There have been 10 gameday citations issued in and around Kinnick Stadium this football season.

To put that number into context, consider the last time Ohio State visited the University of Iowa. On the final day of the 2010 regular season, police handed out 43 citations, part of a season in which 703 citations were issued.

Gameday arrests and citations have cratered in the last several years. According to numbers provided by the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, there were 256 citations issued during the 2009 season. That number spiked to 703 the following year — fueled in part by a crackdown on gameday drinking activities.

In recent years, however, police have shifted their gameday philosophy from one focused on enforcement to a more education-based approach. The results have been dramatic. There were 181 gameday citations during the 2013 season, 117 in 2014, 46 in 2015 and 50 during the 2016 season.

Police said the result has improved Hawkeye games not only for fans, but for police.

'I think it's a good gameday experience right now,' said Scott Beckner, director of the UI Department of Public Safety. 'It's a good blend between community service and enforcement.'

Open Container tickets

If you want to follow the nine seasons of gameday citations, open container tickets is a good place to start. During the 2009 season, police working in and around Kinnick — which includes officers from area police departments and sheriff's offices, in addition to UI officers — issued zero citations for carrying an open container, but 141 public intoxication citations and 95 possession of alcohol under the legal age citations.

Before the start of the 2010 season, UI announced the 'Think Before You Drink' initiative for the upcoming season. Included in gameday citations was curtailing drinking after games in UI lots, increased drunken driving enforcement and zero tolerance for public urination. The university also warned in a news release announcing the initiative that Iowa City's open container ordinance would be 'strictly enforced.'

John McGlothlen / The Gazette

The result? Gameday arrests and citations nearly tripled and leading the way was open container citations. Police wrote 418 such tickets, more than half the 703 citations issued that year. That trend continued for the next several years.

Capt. Mark Bullock, who oversees the department's patrol and investigations unit, said a shift occurred between the 2012 and 2013 seasons. In 2012, police issued 503 citations, more than 300 of which were open container tickets.

'Obviously, that wasn't effective,' Bullock said.

A Different Approach

For the 2013 season, Bullock said police took a different approach, emphasizing education over enforcement.

'We educated people in where they can drink, where they shouldn't drink,' he said.

That year, gameday citations dropped to 181, 58 of which were for open containers. During the 2016 season, of the 50 citations issued by police, only one was for open container. Thirty-three were for public intoxication. Out of this season's 10 citations, nine have been for public intoxication and one was for public urination.

Bullock cautioned that gameday rules and expectations haven't changed, but the shift in approach has allowed police to put a greater emphasis on Kinnick Stadium and ensuring fans are having a safe and enjoyable experience. Bullock said officers are stationed at the stadium's gates and are on the lookout for fans who might have had too much to drink. When appropriate, police can ask fans to leave with a friend and sober up before trying to enter.

'Our goal is for (students) to come in and leave in four years without an arrest and with a degree,' Bullock said.

John McGlothlen / The Gazette

The educational result has benefited officers, as well, Bullock said, noting officers working the game would rather have a positive experience with fans than one resulting in an arrest.

'Hawkeye football is fun for everyone,' he said. 'The police should be no exception.'

Police still have a zero-tolerance policy toward offenses such as assault and university police will follow up with the Dean of Students for students who break the rules.

Beckner said the department's gameday approach is in line with his greater philosophy of being part of students' educational experience during their time on campus. It also has allowed police to build more relationships with the student body. Student groups have been tapped to be ambassadors in UI parking lots and help with parking

'People seem to like that,' Beckner said. 'The kids are enthusiastic. When people come and park in the parking lot, they get a better experience, I think.'

What Fans Say

In regards to law enforcement, fans interviewed about how the gameday atmosphere has changed over the last decade were divided in their opinions.

Darrell Burns, 65, of Sheldon, who has been tailgating for 10 to 15 years, said gamedays used to be rowdier and more fun. He used the word 'dead' to describe the atmosphere compared to years past.

'It's still good, don't get me wrong,' he said. 'But, it's not like it was.'

Some fans pointed out that popular tailgating destinations — like Olive Court and the Magic Bus — are no more and the gameday experience feels more restrictive. However, some fans said they see why additional enforcement was necessary.

'I think it's much more civil,' said Dan Keough, 48, of Des Moines. 'It's fun. It's definitely more family oriented.'

Ryan Eagle, a 35-year-old UI alum who lives in Waukee, said he can remember being in a parking lot in 2003 when beer cans and bottles were being thrown. He said the atmosphere is more controlled these days and he understands why.

'I don't think it took away from tailgating,' he said.

University of Iowa police said if problems arise with their current approach, they'll reassess how they tackle gamedays. But for now, they're sticking with education over enforcement.

'We haven't had any big issues,' Bullock said. 'Calls are down. Complaints are down. It's been enjoyable. ... Whatever we're doing, it's working.'

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com