UI ramps up size of police force for game days

When Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz trots to midfield for a postgame handshake, at least five police officers are by his side.

Even he's not sure that's necessary.

“It seems excessive to me,” Ferentz said, “but I'm probably naive, too.”

The number of police officers at University of Iowa home football games has nearly tripled in the past six years, according to the UI Department of Public Safety. Up to 120 officers and more than 100 private security guards work on game days.

Dave Visin, associate director of public safety, said between 60 and 80 off-campus police officers are hired on game days to work with 40 UI officers. The number hired depends on game attendance and past experiences. The extra officers are paid $55 per hour.

Last season, the UI Athletics Department spent more than $330,000 to pay all the sworn officers who worked the seven home football games, records show. Of that, $207,199 was spent to hire officers who aren't with the university's police force.

The money mostly comes from donors, ticket sales and concessions. The Athletics Department is 100 percent self-sufficient and does not receive university funding.

Visin, who coordinates the hiring, said off-campus cops were first used in 2005, after officials learned some universities had dozens more officers at football games. It made them wonder if they were adequately prepared for a major public safety incident at Kinnick Stadium, he said.

Police at the games mostly deal with intoxicated fans, medical problems and the occasional streaker, but Visin said it only takes one person or severe weather to create a big problem.

“We need enough officers to handle (everything from) a full-scale evacuation to the most common scenarios,” Visin said.

Before the game, groups of four officers walk or ride bikes though tailgating areas. At least one UI police officer is in each group. When the stadium gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, officers watch for unauthorized items and fans that are intoxicated.

By kickoff, all but about 10 officers are inside the stadium, Visin said. Some catch more of the game action than others. Afterward, most officers come to the field and stay until the field is cleared.

Head coaches are escorted by police, but assistant coaches and players are not, Visin said.

Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham is an unpaid volunteer at most games and is stationed on the visitors' sideline. He escorts the visiting coach to and from the locker room, monitors the team's equipment and watches for rowdy fans.

He volunteers his time so a paid position can go to another officer.

“The fans are funnier than they are (harmful),” Graham said, “but every now and then, you'll have somebody who's pretty well liquored up and running their mouth pretty bad. So you try to talk to them and get them to calm down.”

Graham said a strong police presence at the games prevents some problems before they start and that the number of officers is necessary.

“If somebody was to do something to cause a big problem and we didn't have enough officers out there, we'd get beat up for that, too,” Graham said. “It's a balance. We prepare for what may possibly happen, not what probably will happen.”

Appearances by celebrities and dignitaries add another wrinkle. When actors Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore attended this year's Iowa State game, they were escorted by Marion Police Chief Harry Dougherty and Washington Police Chief Greg Goodman.

The number of police officers at UI football games is on par with most Big 10 schools, said University of Illinois police Lt. Roy Acree. He declined to provide the exact number of officers at Illinois games, but said their numbers are comparable.

“That's average,” Acree said. “There are places like Ohio State where you have hundreds of officers. Northwestern would be less. Indiana and Purdue would probably be less.”

Visin said officers made four arrests during the game against Ball State, including an intoxicated man who jumped onto the sidelines from the stands. Still, problems in the stands and the number of arrests have declined so far this season.

New tailgating policies haven't changed the number of officers needed around the stadium on game days, Visin said, but he would like to see more.

“I don't think we have enough (officers), to be honest with you,” Visin said. “I just can't get anymore and manage them. We just don't have enough officers in the state.”