Feb. 03--Attention Pats fans: Big Brother will be watching.
A state police helicopter will be capturing crisp -- and potentially incriminating -- digital images of all the anticipated post-victory mayhem on Super Bowl Sunday.
"You'll need to be very careful," Boston police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said yesterday in a stern warning to college students and anyone else who plans to celebrate, or mourn, the game by flipping cars, climbing light poles or lighting fires.
"Don't do things that will get you in trouble, because our detectives will pursue anyone who breaks things and assaults people.
"They will track people down," he added.
As Super Bowl XLVI approaches, city leaders are hoping for the best, and bracing for the worst.
"Let's show we're a classy city off the field and on the field," Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. "Public drinking will not be tolerated."
The New England Patriots won't face the New York Giants until 6:30 p.m. Sunday, but the city's sports bars will be welcoming fans as early as noon.
By game time, police will be out in force, Davis said.
By halftime, crowd-control barricades will go up in Kenmore Square and North Station, two post-game partying hot spots, he said.
And Kenmore Square and North Station will be closed to through traffic by the game's third quarter.
City licensing officials have been getting into the crackdown, too, visiting as many as 300 barrooms in the past week, and warning owners that overcrowding, over-serving and underage drinkers won't be tolerated.
"And they need to let people know if they leave to celebrate in the streets, they won't be allowed back into the bar," said Patricia Malone, director of the city's licensing office.
Area colleges are organizing on-campus, alcohol-free viewing parties. Northeastern University is offering free food at some of its bowl parties, while Boston University promises free ice skating at its Agganis Arena bowl bash.
But clearly, the most powerful weapon for controlling post-game trouble is that chopper.
"It's extremely beneficial," Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said. "Say a small fire has been started inside the crowd, or an individual is climbing a light post. That's difficult to see at an eye level, but people in the helicopter can say, 'At the corner of X and Y, there appears to be a small fire.'
"And the people on the ground can get right there."
Copyright 2012 - Boston Herald
