Police presence at football games

    The marching band walked down the track at the first home football on Sept. 9 game and, as they passed by an open doored ambulance, they also passed two police officers. Many of the marchers didn’t even notice and continued to march ahead, but some turned their heads.

            There is always some sort of police involvement at DHS home football games.

            From watching teenagers leave after the game, to watching the game and making sure that there is no fighting between rivals, or even between fellow students, the police are present.

            “We are public servants and getting to know the public in a different situation other than in an enforcement capacity to improve the relationship between the general public and the police department,” police officer Michael Yu said.

            “The students at DHS are a big part of the community,” Yu said. He believes that it is important to put resources into the school and to the students.

            Sophomore Madi Yule feels that the police are necessary at the games. “People are stupid and they get drunk and are out of control which leads to fights and injuries,” Yule

            At the Homecoming Game on Sept. 23 there were at least three police officers watching the game, or making sure all was well after the Devils lost.

With crowds of people leaving the stands and walking covered in blue body paint, towards their cars, police officers were talking to other officers or just walking around keeping an eye out.

            “It’s just best to have the extra security, just to keep an eye on the kids,” junior Katie Ibsen said.

            While there hasn’t been a fight or any need for the cops at any of the home football games this year, “I know there are a lot of people drinking, doing drugs, and getting in to fights, especially at the football games,” sophomore Rachel Demarco said.   

            But some students believe police aren’t necessary at the games, since, according to junior Ashley Gongora, “Nothing happens at football games.”

            With the police involved at the high school, officer Yu hopes it will “attain the highest quality of life and security for all who live, work, learn and visit in the City of Davis.”