How you saw the St. Patrick's Day parade this year depends on where you stood, a police major told the Kansas City police board today.
"It's all perception," said Maj. Mark Dumolt, police operations commander at the parade. Someone who hiked blocks into a packed crowd may have a different view than someone who "had a good breakfast and hopped on a float," he said.
"The first 40 minutes of the parade were uneventful," he said. Shortly before noon, however, crowds began to swell between 16th and 17th street along Grand, leading to "pushing, shoving and bumping into people."
"This led to verbal and physical altercations." Dumolt said. A police captain moved a barricade into the street to help relieve congestion, he said.
Police said Monday they may change some things at next year's parade.
Dumolt also noted:
- No alcohol arrests at the parade
- No hindering or interfering with officers
- No injuries to police
- No damage to police equipment
Seven arrests - earlier reports of 11 arrests turned out to be 11 charges against seven persons - were not excessive for such a large crowd, Dumolt said.
Police recovered two handguns, including a snub-nosed .38 from a 16-year-old youth who pointed it at police, he said. The youth was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault.
Two parade participant injuries were reported, he said - one person who injured an ankle, and another who passed out in a portable toilet.
A good, detailed followup in The Star today (see link below also).
