UNM raised hell with the Albuquerque City Council when the Council refused to clear UNM to proceed with a liquor license. UNM through legal and political maneuvering gained approval to sell alcohol at the UNM football events. Realizing some of the potential problems, UNMPD decided to implement a “Text Messaging Campaign.” This allows anyone to complain via text messaging. Here is the caveat; what if a bitter spouse wants to “get even” with their significant other? Or perhaps some other type of rivalry? What happens when the police have insufficient information because the disturbance was not called into a trained dispatcher? UNMPD has given some disgruntled individuals a tool to harass and/or intimidate another person. In addition, UNMPD may have invited more liability than what they can afford.
Channel 7’s Marissa Maez stated, “UNM Police say, they are also starting this new ‘Text Messaging Campaign’ to allow fans to text them when they see an intoxicated person misbehaving during the game.” According to UNM Lt. Robert Haarhues, “so, not only fans who had too much to drink, uh, whatever the issue maybe, uh, we want people who are afraid to say something… ” What happened to just call the police when someone disturbs the peace? This allows a trained dispatcher to evaluate, extract and gather facts from the caller. Does the text message say the offender is armed and with what? Does the text message say the offender just ran over two kids, gives a vehicles description or a license plate number? Any professional knows that face-to-face communication is the best; next is direct verbal communication with another person. There is a reason why professional law enforcement agencies require calls for service (complaints) to be called in.
UNMPD is inviting more problems and vicarious liability. Ultimately, this botched “campaign” is going to blow up in UNM’s face when a family sues for not following professional law enforcement standards.
One last opinion, if UNM’s desire is to make more money, they should fire their football coach for losing game after game. A proven and accompllished coach like Steve Alford packs the PIT! It would be the same result for the football team, if UNM had a good football coach. UNM is trying to solve a problem by treating a symptom. Fix the problem and pack the stadium; and skip the booze.
7 comments:
This TAC, or Text A Complaint plan may have some merit if further developed, but I agree their may be liability in the offing. Is this plan covered by SOP or department policy? Have all dispatchers and affected supervisors received required training? Is a procedure in place? Who determines if a text is a true emergency or, in the example used, someone seeking revenge with another's phone? I think this well-intended idea, as presented, can quickly get out of control, for example, from Albuquerque I recently had a "text conversation" with my son who was waiting to catch a plane at Juan Santa Maria Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Follow-up report anyone?
Show me a botched response and I submit a lawsuit won't be far behind.
As I arm-chair quarterback this issue, I begin to see the potential for wasted time responding to these un-vetted complaints. On the other hand, I suppose if UNM has a sub-station at the event, with a good set of binoculars most of the stadium is observable. Including the playing field! :o)
A couple of years ago my son and I attended a Steelers game in Hines field. At one end of the field was a giant sign proclaiming that if you saw, or had issue with, an unruly fan you could text that fan's location (section, row, seat) and description to stadium officials. During a tour of the stadium we took earlier we were told that the Steelers, and the NFL as a whole, had adopted a 'zero tolerance' policy towards (usually intoxicated) fans that were ruining the experience for other fans. We saw on a couple of occasions that security would move into the area where complaints were received, watch the fan in question for a few minutes, and then escort the rowdy fan out - as in all the way out of the stadium (with no ticket refunds). Even with the drunkest of individuals it was done fairly quietly and with no big show of force. The person being complained about was simply walked out of their seat and out of the facility. Certainly, if you had a fan who was looking for a fight he (or she) was gonna get one, but I as very impressed with the idea behind the system as well as the way those fans were handled.
Every action a law enforcement agency takes these days is subject to law suits, but I personally am a big fan of the texting program you've written about here. Just one man's comment.
Booze is the only thing that will get me to go to a Lobo football
game, until they get rid of Locksley. Another losing season? We'll see.
Berry for UNM President! Schultz fot football coach! White for Athletics Director! Get the mentally challenged people from the city in the same place as the mentally challenged people in UNM Admin so we can all watch them easier!
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM walk them out of the stadium and what , let the drunk drive off in their car ? GREAT IDEA !
The Lobo football team sucks and the Coach is a THUG..... All he can get to come to UNM is THUGS that think they are owed something for coming here. It has always amazed me that a player with ANY talent comes to UNM. Landry Jones from Artesia did the best thing for himself by going to Oklahoma where he is the starting QB. I enjoy hearing after every game that the Lobos have lost again. I laugh my ass off. So this stuff about UNM Police and the text messaging stuff is a joke. It should be easy to spot an intoxicated or disruptive person since there will not be a crowd. I wouldn't go to a game if they were giving tickets away. Lobo football fans SUCK A**..... Go SOONERS........................
The Lobo football team sucks and the Coach is a THUG..... All he can get to come to UNM is THUGS that think they are owed something for coming here. It has always amazed me that a player with ANY talent comes to UNM. Landry Jones from Artesia did the best thing for himself by going to Oklahoma where he is the starting QB. I enjoy hearing after every game that the Lobos have lost again. I laugh my ass off. So this stuff about UNM Police and the text messaging stuff is a joke. It should be easy to spot an intoxicated or disruptive person since there will not be a crowd. I wouldn't go to a game if they were giving tickets away. Lobo football fans SUCK A**..... Go SOONERS........................
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