Boston Police Announce Details Of Fenway Park Security Measures
BOSTON (CBS) -- Citing lessons learned during the Boston Marathon bombings in April, a Boston Police official discussed details of security preparations in case the Red Sox win the American League Pennant on Saturday or Sunday night.
In a press conference late Saturday afternoon, police Superintendent-in-Chief Daniel Linsky said it's been a while since a major Red Sox celebration in the city, but he added the Boston Police have had several opportunities in recent years to practice massive crowd control efforts, including the Celtics' championship season in 2008 and the Bruins' Stanley Cup title in 2011.
The last time the Red Sox won a World Series was in 2007. The team's 2004 World Series title was marred by crowd violence outside Fenway Park, including the death of an Emerson College student who was struck in the eye and killed by a police pepper-spray gun round.
Linsky said vendors outside Fenway Park will be packing up by the fifth inning Saturday night, as well as Sunday night if the American League Championship Series is stretched to seven games. By the seventh inning, police will have encircled Fenway Park with barricade structures, he said. Once the barricades are in place, people will be allowed to leave Fenway Park but no one will be allowed in, Linsky said.
Security measures this weekend beyond the usual staffing levels for a Red Sox game include deployment of several K-9 units and many extra officers on the street, according to Linsky.
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